Tray of condiments and spicesSalt and pepper at a modern restaurant
A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to impart a specific flavour, to enhance the flavour,[1] or to complement the dish.
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.
Definition
Various condiments at Sangha market in Mali, 1992.
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]
Salt, pepper, and sugar are commonly placed on Western restaurant tables.
Etymology
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]
History
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]
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]
Herbert, Amanda E; Bouchard, Jack B; Fine, Julia (3 June 2024). "Colonizing Condiments: Culinary Experimentation and the Politics of Disgust in Early Modern Britain". Global Food History: 1–30. doi:10.1080/20549547.2024.2357928.
