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This question is just one out of vague curiosity, as I have heard and in some cases have observed that the condiment mustard is seemingly in decline or at the very least, is mostly enjoyed by the middle aged or older population, so I thought I would start a thread on this topic and while I’m at it, include a poll where other cd members can vote, also, please feel free to give a brief explanation as to why and which vote you selected
Got to be honest as a kid i hated it.If its on a sandwich now,i will eat it but im not keen and theres certainly never any in my cupboards. Im middle aged (52)
Unfortunately i cant see your poll either
EDIT: Your poll has now appeared,so i voted for the 2nd option
Seems that mustard consumption is declining from years past, just based on my casual observations. I only typically have a light serving on a warm pastrami sandwich.
I started taking tuna sandwiches to school in first grade. My mother mixed the tuna with celery, olives, and mayo, and spread French's yellow mustard on the bread. Now I put both mayo and mustard in with the tuna when I mix it in the bowl.
I am pretty sure most youngsters could taste English Mustard which is very hot compared to what is generally served in America, whilst French Mustard is much darker and more mild and nice with steak.
This question is just one out of vague curiosity, as I have heard and in some cases have observed that the condiment mustard is seemingly in decline or at the very least, is mostly enjoyed by the middle aged or older population, so I thought I would start a thread on this topic and while I’m at it, include a poll where other cd members can vote, also, please feel free to give a brief explanation as to why and which vote you selected
Interesting topic.
On the assumption that this is true and occurring here in the US, I will venture a guess one contributing factor may be changing demographics in an evolving society: age and cultural.
Generally speaking, and painting with a broad brush:
Age:
Kids and younger folks have a higher preference for sweeter flavored foods. This translates to a preference for ketchup over mustard as a condiment on commonly eaten foods such as burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc. But as they age, their palate becomes more developed and they start to appreciate and incorporate less sweet foods, some with bolder flavors such as mustard and horseradish as condiments on those same foods.
As the older generation of Baby Boomers, who regularly consume mustard continuously declines in numbers, and with the next large population bulge of Millennials still relatively young enough to prefer sweeter ketchup over mustard, we can see the numbers for mustard consumption correspondingly decline.
I know for me that was true. Ketchup was pretty much on anything and everything as a kid, but as I aged, I starting to prefer mustards of all kids, and now rarely eat ketchup, which I find too cloyingly sweet.
Cultural:
As the US diversifies ethnically, there may be a shift in general palate preference for standard condiments. For example, we've seen a rise in the consumption of salsas and hot sauces such as sriracha. It would not surprise me if ketchup consumption also declines as a result, but probably only in the older generations. kids of all kids will still prefer sweet ketchup as a condiment. Mustard, unless one is exposed to it growing up, may just never make enough of an inroad into many adult people's condiment rotation, especially if they do not eat foods where it may commonly be used.
...Or maybe they just need to bring back the Grey Poupon commercial with the gentleman in the limo?
My sister has to buy mustard from Costco because her 12 year old, 18 year old, and 23 year old all love the stuff. But they also love stuff like buffalo wings (the hotter the better) and wasabi, so they clearly aren't shy about bold flavors.
It is possible that younger people are still locked into a sweet preference. In fact, it seems to me that sweeter foods abound now. Sweet salad dressings, sweet barbeque sauce, sweet things cooked in veggies. That flavor seems to me to predominate in restaurant foods. And this might also be happening in home kitchens. (But younger folks are probably not doing that much cooking.)
But I think saying that anyone under 25 won't eat mustard is a generalization. Gross generalizations are seldom correct. And for Pete's sake, what do younger folks put on their hot dogs?
This question sounds like a 6 year old made it up! LOL I ate far more mustard as a child than I do now. I don't like the spicy kick it has and my stomach can't take anything spicy.
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