R OVELIONy L s Weekl I M 4 der de! Rea tionwi Na
of Ventura CountySimi Valley Edition of Ventura County Week of July 27, 2015
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read
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Vol. I Issue No. 31 VCTidbits.com
TIDBITS® SPREADS A LITTLE
MUSTARD by Kathy Wolfe
August 1st is National Mustard Day!!! And no better time for Tidbits to examine the particulars on this favorite condiment! • The word “mustard” actually means two things – it refers to the actual spice itself as well as to the concoction made from the tiny seeds of the plant. The seeds measure between 1 and 2 mm, about 1/8 inch in diameter. There are three different kinds of mustard plants – black mustard, brown Indian mustard, and white or yellow mustard. The seeds are ground, cracked, or left whole, then mixed with salt, water, lemon juice, or vinegar, along with some ÀDYRULQJV DQG VSLFHV WKDW JLYH WKH SDVWH D VZHHW RU spicy taste. It doesn’t become an aromatic substance until the seeds are cracked and mixed with liquid. This activates the oils in the mustard seed that gives it its taste and smell. ,W¶V EHOLHYHG WKDW WKH DQFLHQW 5RPDQV ZHUH WKH ¿UVW to concoct prepared mustard. Their blend consisted of ground seed mixed with unfermented grape juice and spices. The juice was known as “must,” and when mixed with the seeds, it became “burning must,” or mustum ardens, which was shortened to mustard. They added caraway, coriander, dill, celery, thyme, oregano, honey, vinegar, and oil. • The ancient Egyptians considered mustard seeds a symbol of good fortune. Seeds were placed in King Tut’s tomb for his next life. • To the Greeks, mustard was considered a medicinal item long before its use with food. The writings of Hippocrates recommended mustard paste as a remedy for muscle aches, toothaches, to help clear sinuses, and increase blood circulation. French monks also used it to treat wounds. • The Bible’s New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all feature the Parable of the Mustard Seed, used by Jesus as a symbol of the Kingdom of God starting from a tiny beginning and growing quickly into something very large. Jesus was referencing the fact that the mustard seed is the smallest seed that his listeners planted in the ground, one which grew to 20 feet (6.1 m) in just a few years. He also used the seed Continued Next Page...