‘Hits the nose like wasabi’: The best (and worst) supermarket English mustard, tasted and rated | Sauces and gravy
forAs a custom connoisseur, I tasted all 10 mustards straight from the jar. With teary eyes, endorphins pumping and overactive salivary glands, I licked each mustard seed off a spoon, then quickly cleared my throat with plenty of milk and water to soothe the heat. But the sandwich I ended up eating, with my new favorite mustard, was worth every fiery spoonful.
Mustard is interestingly complex in flavor—strong, umami, spicy—but easy to make. At its simplest, it is nothing more than fermented mustard seeds soaked in brine until they become sticky and bubbly. But it is unfortunate that many modern brands, especially cheap ones, see fit to add unnecessary additives, such as xanthan gum and wheat flour. As expected, the cheaper the mustard, the less actual mustard it contains.
As with mayonnaise, many processed mustards contain spirit vinegar rather than more refined acids, such as white wine or apple cider vinegar. Spiritual vinegar is harsh and sharp, dominates the overall flavor and can result in an unattractive mousse-like texture. In fact, six of the mustards I tasted were so similar, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they were all made in the same factory. They were essentially carbon copies of each other – sulphurous, sweet, hot, mousy – even if they still had the fiery character and complexity of classic English mustard.
So, when looking for mustard that’s worth your money, look for mustard that contains real vinegar rather than spirit vinegar, and without emulsifiers or synthetic agents like wheat flour; It is simply unnecessary. Or better yet, make your own: you can easily Produce a year’s worth of mustard With only five minutes of work.
The best English mustard in the supermarket
better total:
Stokes classic English mustard
★★★★☆
Bright gold with a sweet, clean scent. It has a mild sour and bitter taste typical of English mustard, and a creamy but slightly grainy texture. A simple, well-executed product that delivers on all fronts.
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M&S Hot English Mustard
★★★★☆
The buttercup is yellow with the scent of fresh mustard leaves. Made with mustard, salt, lemon juice concentrate and turmeric – no emulsifiers. It heats up gradually, is less sweet than most other foods, and has a lovely smooth, pureed texture. Exceptional quality for the price.
And the rest…
Tracklements Strong English mustard
★★★☆☆
School bus yellow, very fiery and intense: this thick, simple paste made from crushed mustard seeds hits the nose like wasabi. Good ingredients and deserves a star for great taste. One for the mustard purists.
Coleman’s Original English Mustard
★★★☆☆
Bright yellow with a classic scent and a touch of white. Really spicy, although faint in a ham sandwich. Very acidic and strong, with a thin, mash-like texture. Contains wheat flour and xanthan gum.
Stamford Street Co. English Mustard
★★☆☆☆
Yellow turmeric, with a pickled egg and the smell of salt and vinegar. Instant intense heat on the tongue, sweet with a slight complexity and smooth texture. Contains acetic acid, wheat flour and xanthan gum. Fiery and budget-friendly mustard.
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English mustard from Tesco
★★☆☆☆
Yellow rubber duck with a sulfurous smell. Salty up front, followed by heat and sweet, complex mustard flavors. It has a slightly mousse texture and contains wheat flour and xanthan gum. Affordable and reliable everyday mustard.
Sainsbury’s English mustard
★★☆☆☆
Saffron yellow, with a dominant vinegar aroma, strong sulfur flavor and bitter flavours, all complemented by a pleasant prickly heat. Carbonated and contains wheat flour.
Asda English mustard
★★☆☆☆
Honey yellow, with a familiar reassuring sweetness and heat that develops and grows, with notes of sulfur mustard. But it has a dark consistency and contains wheat flour and xanthan gum.
Waitrose basic English mustard
★★☆☆☆
Classic dark yellow, with a strong vinegary spirit scent. Very spicy, with a sweet background and a pronounced mustard flavour. Standard emulsion consistency, contains xanthan gum.
Pat’s English mustard
★☆☆☆☆
Canary yellow, with a strong vinegary scent. Very sweet, but with a fiery heat and finishes with a bitter mustard note. It has a thick consistency of xanthan gum, and also contains wheat flour. However, budget mustard is pretty decent.
For more, read The Best Kitchen Knives for Every Job—Picked by Chefs