Mustard Seeds or Small Rye
This annual herb, the Brassica juncea (brown mustard), Brassica nigra (black mustard), and the Brassica hirta/Sinapis alba (white or yellow mustard) is well known for its value as a condiment. The mustard is cultivated for its oil, or as a vegetable, or maybe even as fodder. Mustard flowers are small and bright yellow and a mustard field is a beautiful sight during the flowering season. The seeds are 1.5 to 3 mm in size. Since 800 AD, the French have used this condiment. It was taken by the Spanish explorers in the 1400s. Pope John XXII was so fond of mustard that he created a new post in the Vatican of 'mustard maker to the Pope'!
In order to germinate, mustard seeds need a cold atmosphere and relatively moist soil. They take 3 to 10 days to germinate. Mustard plants are shrubs. White mustard is grown in Australia, China, Chili, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, North Africa, Canada, and the United States are the main producers of mustard. The white/yellow mustard is indigenous to Southern Europe, and black mustard grows well in the Mediterranean region. The black mustard is endemic in the Southern Mediterranean region. Brown mustard grows in India. It was brought to India from China. Plants producing brown and black seeds have a higher yield than the plants producing yellow mustard seeds. In order to grow well, mustard needs a clayey loam soil.
Mustard powder is used in mayonnaise. Dried or dehydrated mustard leaves and whole mustard seeds are used extensively in all cuisines. It is used as a flavoring and tempering agent in Indian cooking. Ground mustard is used in the preparation of many dishes. Mustard flour has preservative properties. It has also known to have antioxidant qualities. Mustard has such an appetizing flavor that all over the world this is one condiment which is a great favorite. It is used in medicine as well.
Interestingly, mustard seeds have quite a few cultural references. In Christianity, Jesus tells his disciples to have faith like a mustard seed, because even though the plant bears one of the smallest seeds, it provides shelter for birds, and is a persistent and tough plant. Inspired by this, the Order of the Mustard Seed was founded in Germany, which exhorted its members to be true to Christ, kind to all people and to spread the Gospel. Buddha told the story of the mustard seed and a grieving mother, inconsolable at the death of her only son. When she went to the Buddha to ask him to give back her son, he told her to bring him a handful of seeds from the house of a family that had never lost a single member. The woman could not find any such house. She thus realized that death is common to all people. The Quran states that justice will be given to all and even the equivalent of a mustard seed will be accounted for. Jewish texts compare the universe to the size of a mustard seed in order to illustrate the insignificance of the world and to teach the great lesson of humility.
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