I take condiments very seriously. From sauces and aiolis to spreads and chutneys, condiments can easily take a meal to the next level. As a kid, I experimented with homemade sauces on a regular basis and considered making my very own sauce cookbook (maybe someday?). On a regular basis, I still make my locally famous ‘Mustamaise’—think mustard, mayo, horseradish, a little squeeze of lemon and S&P—as an accompaniment to beef or ham. As I aim to balance out the Vermont craft beers and cheese in my life, I’ve recently turned to flavor-packed and low-calorie mustard as my condiment of choice. I’m happy to say that there is a new best mustard in my fridge, and it’s Vermont made.

Green Mountain Mustard, Richmond, Vermont
Green Mountain Mustard, a family-owned business that operates out of Richmond, Vermont, started at farmers’ markets in Vermont and has steadily grown its following with distribution now far and wide throughout the US. Michael Adams is their Director of All That Happens, while his parents, Jeanne and Ed, are the Conductor of Controlled Chaos and Flavor Guru in Residency. Together, they’ve created a stellar product line with creative branding. Once you try it, I guarantee you’ll be replacing the common yellow mustard in your fridge with Green Mountain Mustard’s unique, innovative flavor combos.

I first heard of Green Mountain Mustard when a catchy label and the temptation of Ragin’ Rooster—Sriracha Mustard ($6.99)—beckoned me from the shelf at Vermont’s Own Products in Middlebury. Without exaggeration, we inhaled that first jar of Green Mountain Mustard, eating it on pretzels, sandwiches, eggs and maybe even by the spoonful. Since then, I’ve been eager to try all of the mustards in Green Mountain Mustard’s line up. Each has a unique taste profile and all are more delicious than you might expect. Although Ragin’ Rooster is still my go-to with its homemade sriracha and hint of chile and garlic flavors, Golden Grain, Clove Encounter and Deli Dirt are making their way into many of our meals on a daily basis.

Golden Grain: Green Mountain Mustard markets Golden Grain as a whole-grain maple mustard. It is certainly thicker than other mustards in their line up; its whole-grain goodness adds a bit of creaminess. What the label might not tell you is that Golden Grain packs a bit of heat, nicely balanced by the sweet maple flavor. The heat comes from red pepper flakes, which gives the mustard a nice pop of color in addition to the brown and yellow whole-grain mustard seeds. We’ve used it on grilled cheese (think Grafton Village Maple Smoked Cheddar, uh huh), as a base for a maple-balsamic vinaigrette and on breakfast sandwiches. I can also see using it in a chicken salad recipe or slathering it on a nice piece of crusty Red Hen bread for a simple snack or app.

Clove Encounter: With more than 10 cloves of garlic in a jar, Clove Encounter—a Garlic and Oregano Mustard—is packed with flavor (but surprisingly, doesn’t leave you with terrible breath – a win, win!). This mustard won a Silver Medal at the 2013 World-Wide Mustard Competition, and I can easily see why. The garlic and oregano pair well together in a thinner consistency mustard that makes a good dip or spread for pretzels, crackers or crudite. Keeping with Green Mountain Mustard’s unique marketing, the tag line on Clove Encounter is: “Shallots are for babies, onions are for men and garlic is for heroes.” Love it. I’ve been eating Clove Encounter on sandwiches and on crackers, but could also see it working on a toasted bagel as a spread or using it as a true condiment on a burger or brat.

Deli Dirt: I thought Deli Dirt—Everything Bagel Mustard—was going to be my number one in Green Mountain Mustard’s collection of mustards, since Everything Bagels are one of my favorite foods in the world (second only to Myers Bagels Montreal Spice Bagel). With sesame seeds, chopped onion, poppy seeds, garlic powder, caraway seeds and black pepper, it contains all of your favorite bagel toppings. To me, the yellow mustard flavor comes through a bit too strongly to make it my favorite. Every time I eat it, I get a craving for hotdogs, beer and baseball—or could it just be the Vermont winter making me dream of warm summer breezes? For now, I’ll stick to eating it on a burger with pickles and a seeded bun.

Tips for Eating & Buying Green Mountain Mustard:

• If you can’t find Green Mountain Mustard locally, don’t worry. You can purchase it online quite painlessly. And, they offer free shipping on orders over $30. Also, if you sign up for their emails, you’ll get 10% off your order. If you want to find Green Mountain Mustard locally, try their retail finder tool.
• If you want to try a variety of mustards, shop a variety pack, from the top sellers to total hotties.
• Interested in discovering new ways to use mustard? Download Green Mountain Mustard’s online cookbook (for free!) here. Just give them your email address, and start cooking up some recipes featuring Green Mountain’s mustard.

Green Mountain Mustard
62 Orchard Lane
Richmond, VT 05477
michael@greenmountainmustard.com
(802) 435-1919

*Full Disclosure: Green Mountain Mustard sent along a few jars of mustard for me to conduct a taste-test. All opinions are my own.