A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to impart a specific flavor, to enhance the flavour, [1] or to complement the dish.
Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavour texture: barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, Marmite and sour cream are examples.
Alternatively, condiments are sometimes added prior to serving, for example, in a sandwich made with ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise.
A table condiment or table sauce is served separately from the food and added to taste by the diner. Many , such as mustard or ketchup, are available in single-serving packets, commonly when supplied with take-out or fast food meals.
The exact definition of a condiment varies. Some definitions encompass spices and herbs, including salt and pepper, [2] using the term interchangeably with seasoning. [3] Others restrict the definition to include 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. [3]
The term condiment comes from the Latin condimentum, meaning "spice, seasoning, sauce" and from the Latin condire, meaning "preserve, pickle, season". [4] The term originally described pickled or preserved foods, but its meaning has changed over time. [5]
Condiments were known in historical Ancient Rome, India, Greece and China. There is a myth that before food preservation techniques were widespread, pungent spices and condiments were used to make the food more palatable, [6] but this claim is not supported by any evidence or historical record. [7] The Romans made the condiments garum and liquamen, a similar and at times synonymous preparation, by crushing the innards of various fish and then fermenting them in salt, resulting in a liquid containing glutamic acid, suitable for enhancing the flavour of food. The popularity of these sauces led to a flourishing condiment industry. [4] Apicius, a cookbook based on fourth and fifth century cuisine, contains a section based solely on condiments. [4]
The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a
worldwide view of the subject. (March 2022) |
In the United States, the market for condiments was US$5.6 billion in 2010 and was estimated to grow to US$7 billion by 2015. [8] The condiment market is the second largest in specialty foods behind that of cheese. [8]