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, or in some cultures, to complement the dish. The term originally described pickled or preserved foods, but has shifted meaning over time.

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".

Definition

Tray of condiments and spices

Various condiments at Sangha market, Mali 1992

The exact definition of what is and is not a condiment varies. Some definitions include spice and herbs, including salt and pepper, using the term interchangeably with seasoning. 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. Cheese is also considered a condiment in most 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, but this claim is not supported by any evidence or historical record. 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. Apicius, a cookbook based on 4th and 5th century cuisine, contains a section based solely on condiments.

List of condiments

Main article: List of condiments

See also: List of brand name 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. The condiment market is the second largest in specialty foods behind that of cheese.

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
• 
  Worcestershire sauce
• 
  Gentleman's Relish
• 
  Sriracha (type of Hot sauce)
• 
  Shichimi
• 
  Wasabi

Non-Examples

• Lemon Juice

See also

• Condiments by country (category)
• Dip
• Garnish
• List of fish sauces
• List of foods
• List of mustard brands
• Non-brewed condiment
• Seasoning
• Spice
• Relish
• Ingredient

References & sources

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.
• Shafer, J.F. (2017). Lemon, Life and Lemonade (4rd ed.). Harsh. p. 291. ISBN 193534575844378848. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help); Unknown parameter |Location= ignored (|location= suggested) (help)