Condiment

Salt, pepper, and sugar are commonly placed on Western restaurant tables.

A condiment is a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food to impart a particular flavor, to enhance its flavor,^[1] or in some cultures, to complement the dish. The term originally described pickled or preserved foods, but has shifted meaning over time.^[2]

Many condiments are available packaged in single-serving packets, like mustard or ketchup, particularly when supplied with take-out or fast-food meals. They are usually applied by the diner, but are sometimes added prior to serving; for example, in a sandwich made with ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise. Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavor or texture to the food; barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and marmite are examples.

The term condiment comes from the Latin condimentum, meaning "spice, seasoning, sauce" and from the Latin condere, meaning "preserve, pickle, season".^[3]

Definition

Tray of condiments and spices

The exact definition of what is and is not a condiment varies. Some definitions include spice and herbs, including salt and pepper,^[4] using the term interchangeably with seasoning.^[5] Others restrict the definition to including only "prepared food compound[s], containing one or more spices", which are added to food after the cooking process, such as mustard, ketchup or mint sauce.^[5] Cheese is also considered a condiment in some European countries.

History

Condiments were known in Ancient Rome, Ancient India, Ancient Greece and Ancient China. There is a myth that before food preservation techniques were widespread, pungent spices and condiments were used to make the food more palatable,^[6] but this claim is not supported by any evidence or historical record.^[7] The Romans made the condiments garum and liquamen by crushing the meat of various fish and fermenting it in salt, leading to a flourishing condiment industry.^[3] Apicius, a cookbook based on 4th and 5th century cuisine, contains a section based solely on condiments.^[3]

List of condiments

Condiment market in the United States

The condiment market refers to the marketing and consumer purchase of condiments.

In the United States, condiment market was valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2010 and is estimated to grow to USD 7 billion by 2015.^[8] The condiment market is the second largest in specialty foods behind that of cheese.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Dijon mustard
• 
  Chrain (horseradish sauce)
• 
  Mayonnaise
• 
  Tomato Ketchup
• 
  Pesto genovese
• 
  Chutneys
• 
  Curry powder or paste
• 
  Ajika, spicy sauce in Caucasian cuisine
• 
  Tkemali (Georgian sauce made of sour cherry plums)
• 
  Common Chinese condiments: soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, white pepper
• 
  Packets of duck sauce
• 
  Salsa
• 
  Worcestershire sauce
• 
  Gentleman's Relish
• 
  Sriracha (type of Hot sauce)
• 
  Shichimi
• 
  Wasabi

See also

References & sources

References

Sources

• "Collins: Definition Condiment". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 29 September 2014. 
• Farrell, K. T. (1990). Spices, Condiments and Seasonings (2nd ed.). MA, USA: Aspen Publishers. p. 291. ISBN 9780834213371. 
• "Merriam-Webster: Definition of condiment". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved October 23, 2011. 
• Nealon, Tom (7 September 2010). "De Condimentis". HiLobrow. Retrieved 10 February 2014. 
• Smith, Andrew F. (May 1, 2007). The Oxford companion to American food and drink. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-530796-2. Retrieved March 15, 2012. 

Condiments
List of condiments List of common dips
Condiments	Ajika Ajvar Amba Anchovy paste Balsamic vinegar Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Barbecue sauce Biber salçası Black vinegar Brown sauce Beurre Maître d'Hôtel Chili peppers Cheese Cheong Jocheong Maesil-cheong Mogwa-cheong Yuja-cheong Chili oil Chimichurri Chrain Chutney Green mango chutney Cocktail sauce Colo-colo Crema Crushed red pepper Dabu-dabu Dip Duck sauce Fish paste Fish sauce Fritessaus Fruit preserves Fry sauce Gochujang Guacamole Hogao Honey dill Horseradish Hot sauce Kachumbari Kachumber Kaymak Khrenovina Kyopolou Lethocerus indicus Ljutenica Mayonnaise Mignonette sauce Milkette Monkey gland sauce Muhammara Mumbo sauce Murri Nam chim Nam phrik Nước chấm Nutritional yeast Olive oil Pearà Pepper jelly Perilla oil Pesto Piccalilli Pico de gallo Pickle Pickled fruit Pindjur Pistou Popcorn seasoning Relish Remoulade Marie Rose sauce Salad cream Salad dressing Salad dressing spread Salmoriglio Salsa Salsa golf Salt and pepper Satsivi Sauerkraut Sesame oil Skyronnes Soy sauce Soup soy sauce Sweet soy sauce Steak sauce Sumbala Sweet chili sauce Syrup Tartar sauce Tekka Teriyaki sauce Tiparos Tkemali Tomato jam Toum Vinegar Vincotto Wasabi Watermelon rind preserves Worcestershire sauce XO sauce Za'atar Zacuscă Zhug Zigeuner sauce Zingara sauce
Ketchups	Banana ketchup Curry ketchup Fruit ketchup Mushroom ketchup
Mustards	Amora Colman's Dijon mustard Düsseldorfer Löwensenf French's Grey Poupon Gulden's Keen's Maille Mostarda National Mustard Museum Plochman's Stadium Mustard Tewkesbury mustard Thomy Turun sinappi Zatarain's
List articles	Accompaniments to french fries Brand name condiments Fish pastes Fish sauces Indian condiments Japanese condiments Mustard brands Hot sauces Pakistani condiments Philippine condiments Pickled foods
Misc.	Carolina style Condiment Cruet-stand Mustard oil Sachet Salt and pepper shakers
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