No French Mustard!
Pas De Moutarde Française as they say in France. There’s an official shortage of French mustard in the shops. There are a couple of reasons as to why my favourite part of the condiment shelf is empty in the local Co-Op store. The first is that a drought in Canada has caused the shortage followed by something to do with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Conflicts
Both Russia and Ukraine grow a huge amount of mustard seed and because of the conflict, none of it is getting through to the manufacturers. It’s still nothing like the amount of mustard seed Canada produces though which is something around 80% of the type used in French mustard. The French are also claiming that their own people are hoarding the stuff, having caught a whiff some time ago that there will be a supply problem with the raw material.
Sludge
One of those small jars will last me a long time, probably passing the best-before date before I get to finish it off. If only the people of France knew the problems I am having with my pork pie treats or naff white bread ham sandwich! They are just not the same without that dark brown sludgy-looking stuff spread thinly across the meat.
English?
“Ah, I hear you say, what’s wrong with English mustard?” Nothing at all, it’s just a little bit too rich for me and always gives me heartburn. Come to think of it, you would have thought all mustard was made from the same seeds. Not so. But, I can’t get my head around how the Canadian drought has only affected the French mustard seeds. Perhaps the English type doesn’t need as much water?
Marmite Non Non
What’s a man to do? I did try spreading a little Marmite on my party-size pork pie, but that didn’t work. I love Marmite too as well as pork pie, but they just don’t go together well. H.P.Sauce, no thank you. The French love their mustard, hence the stockpiling of the stuff in every available kitchen cupboard, pantry or stache secrète. Oh my, I wonder how long this shortage will go on for?
Who Knew>
I never knew life with a pork pie and no mustard could be so bland. There are some pies, the speciality ones, usually homemade and they can be nice without any additional sludge slapped on them, but they tend to be very expensive and quite a distance from home before you can find a purveyor of such fine food.
Zut!
With all this modern technology, I mean, you can call a friend from the moon on your Apple wristwatch or work out the meaning of life in nano-seconds on a laptop. French mustard seeds though, search on Google and it comes back with a sharp intake of breath! Zut Alors!
christinenovalarue
January 10, 2024💚
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, Christine 😊
Anonymous
January 10, 2024I’m a big fan of French Mustard and I’ve run out too.
One of my favourite ways to use it is to smear it on pork chops shortly before the end of grilling and sprinkle with brown sugar. It’s delicious. 🙂
Trev
January 10, 2024Sounds delicious, Sue. 😊
SueW
January 10, 2024Oops! The anonymous pork chop comment was from me! 🙂
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, Sue. 😊
Going Batty in Wales
January 10, 2024I hope you find some soon.
Paul
January 10, 2024Never thought I’d be part of a blogging discussion on French mustard…. But here goes. Like you I prefer Dijon to English but I am quite partial to good old English HP sauce or pickle. So whilst global markets and the food supply continue to collapse, I can for now survive and enjoy pork pie to the full!
Trev
January 10, 2024Nice one, Paul. Thank you. 😊
Trev
January 10, 2024Me too, but it’s not looking good. Thank you. 😊
marlandphotos
January 10, 2024I liked the last paragraph regarding modern technology, a phrase I use quite often! I loved this post! I also loved seeing the mustard fields when traveling in Canada! https://marlandphotos.com/2017/07/23/mustard-fields-in-alberta/
Trev
January 10, 2024Cool, thank you 😊
surrealartpsychonaut
January 10, 2024Yet another reason to hate Vladamir Putin.
Trev
January 10, 2024That’s one way of looking at it. Thank you 😊
Anonymous
January 10, 2024Quelle horreur! I am on my final sludgy scrapings of a jar I opened pre-pandemic. I shall have to guard it from les moutard voleurs.
JosieHolford
January 10, 2024Professor Plum with a candlestick cut the mustard.
Trev
January 11, 2024Ha, a bit of Cluedo? Thank you, Josie. 🙂
Peter's pondering
January 10, 2024Sacré bleu!
Trev
January 10, 2024Indeed! Thank you, Peter. 😊
newepicauthor
January 10, 2024For the love of mustard, France’s most famous condiment.
Trev
January 10, 2024I know, I just wish I could get my hands on some. Thank you. 😊
Yetismith
January 10, 2024This is very disturbing, Trev! Who would have thought French mustard could be affected by the Russia/Ukraine war or lack of rain in Canada. Just goes to show how little we know about ordinary items. How much we take for granted. I no longer use any sort of mustard but I do know what you mean about pork pies needing that little smear. I hope this year’s crop will thrive!
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, Carolyn. It goes to show how vulnerable we are. 😊
John
January 10, 2024I prefer good old yellow mustard, Trev, I hope you get your mustard soon!
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, John. 😊
John W. Howell
January 10, 2024So sorry for your French mustard shortage. I have a few recipes that call for it but I usually use a brown mustard for enhancing sandwiches etc. Looks like it might be a while if drought is a factor.
Trev
January 10, 2024I think it will be sometime, thank you, John. 😊
Herb
January 10, 2024How dreadfully sad. As a thought, the Germans make a pretty good mustard, also.
Trev
January 10, 2024Ooh, I’ve never tried a German mustard, thank you, Herb. 😊
Rosaliene Bacchus
January 10, 2024Sorry, Trev 🙁 I’d ship you a bottle if I could. For me, sandwiches are just not the same without French Mustard.
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, Rosaliene, that’s a very nice thing to say. 😊
Anonymous
January 10, 2024It’s a tragedy Trevor! I apologize on behalf of Canada.. 🙂
Trev
January 10, 2024Thank you, apologies accepted 😉
anotherdaywithjulie
January 10, 2024At least it’s not toilet paper that the stores are out of. We had that scare here during the height of covid.
The Hinoeuma
January 10, 2024When Costco ran out of TP, I was wondering if C19 gave you the screaming s****.
Trev
January 11, 2024I remember that and yes, you’re quite right, that was awful. Thank you, Julie.😊
The Hinoeuma
January 10, 2024We seem to have plenty, here, on the US East Coast.
What on earth is Marmite?
Trev
January 11, 2024Marmite is a yeast extract, dark brown and has a strong taste. People seem to either love it or hate it. Thank you. 😊
Jim Flanigan
January 11, 2024A drought in Canada? Thanks, Trudeau.
Trev
January 11, 2024So they say. Thank you, Jim. 😊
Lolsy's Library
January 11, 2024Never be desperate to have marmite instead *shakes head*
Trev
January 11, 2024Lol. Thank you. 🤣
Lolsy's Library
January 11, 2024This is also why I want to start growing my own foods. During COVID, everything kept running out. Totally understandable why…except for the toilet paper. But the actual food was understandable.
Trev
January 11, 2024We grow a lot of veg, but I have never looked into mustard seeds. Well worth a thought, thank you. 😊
M. Oniker
January 11, 2024Meanwhile, in other condiment horror woes, here in the States I can’t get Worcestershire sauce. Apparently there has been quite the shortage for years, some kind of bottling/supply line snafu that started during the early days of COVID. I use it regularly but not a lot of it, so I have not noticed this outrage until the last four months or so. If I had grandchildren (tough since I don’t have kids and I’m well past it), I’d be sitting back and waxing euphoric about, “I remember when you could walk into any average grocery store and buy everything on your list…” (I did accidentally buy a jar of Grey Poupon when I already had one that was 3/4 full, so now I am hoarding two near full jars! Sorry!)
Trev
January 11, 2024Thank you. We have Worcester sauce, no problems as we are only about 70 miles from the plant where it’s made. I don’t know what Poupon is. 😊
M. Oniker
January 11, 2024According to Wikipedia: Grey Poupon is a brand of Dijon mustard which originated in Dijon, France. The U.S. rights to the brand were acquired by the Heublein Company, later passing on to Kraft Foods.
In the States “French” mustard is commonly thought of as Dijon, and Grey Poupon is the most famous brand. 🙂
Trev
January 11, 2024Ah, thank you for that. So now I know. 🙂
Cindy Georgakas
January 11, 2024oh no, sorry to hear and sad woes of our times. My garden yielded 2 cauliflower heads the size of a golf ball… yikes . I don’t dare try to grow mustard seeds. lol ❣️😹
Trev
January 11, 2024Oh dear, Cindy, I think it’s a sign of the times. Certainly strange weather over here like I have never known in my life. Thank you. 🙂
luisa zambrotta
January 12, 2024How sorry I am for your (existential) problem dearest Trev.😚
I hope you can soon replenish your supply of French Mustard
Trev
January 12, 2024Thank you, Luisa, that is so very kind of you. I hope I can replenish it too. 😊
Mama Cormier
January 13, 2024Have you ever tried maple syrup on your pork pies? The Quebecois love it on their tourtière. I agree that the Germans make some pretty good mustard as well. Good luck, my friend.
Trev
January 13, 2024I have never tried that, but thank you for your tip. 😊
Cecilia Mary Gunther
January 14, 2024Yeah. Marmite and pork pie is not a thing. 😂- and I LOVE my marmite too! Maybe we need to be planting mustard seed in our gardens this summer!
Trev
January 14, 2024I think you’re right on both things! Thank you, Cecilia. 😊
Lisa Orchard
January 15, 2024Sorry to hear about this. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to get your favorite condiment. Is there anyway you can find it online and have it delivered? Just a thought. 🙂
Trev
January 15, 2024Thank you, Lisa. I keep looking but all in vain at the moment. 😊
Roze
February 15, 2024That is interesting how a drought in Canada and the Ukraine war can cause a shortage of French mustard. I wonder if it has affected any other products? Thanks for the post!
Trev
February 15, 2024Thank you, Roze. It must have some affect on other products. I’m not sure if the French are suffering the same shortages as we are in the UK, I did think they made sure they would have their mustard. 🙂
sally cronin
February 20, 2024Sorry about your deprivation… I don’t like to boast but we still have on the shelves here in Ireland possibly because it is not as popular over here and they are working on previous stock. I see Amazon is still selling although Colemans is out of stock.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Strong-Amora-Mustard-Moutarde/dp/B005C18CF2 I hope that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is resolved soon and I have no idea how 8 billion people in the world ended up with a handful of meglamaniacs pulling the strings. We need to do better.
Trev
February 20, 2024Thank you, Sally. Still a shortage of it here in Wales. One good thing though, I have rekindled my love for beetroot. I agree, I have no idea how certain people in the world are allowed to wreak havoc, causing death and misery and get away with it. Of course, it makes missing French mustard ridiculous. Megalomaniac’s with the personality of the Devil seem to be getting away with it all again. I feel afraid for the younger generation. Thank you, Sally. 🙏
Roze
March 3, 2024I feel for you though I don’t like mustard at all with the exception of honey mustard which is miles from French mustard. I remember maybe 30-40 years ago we had a similar issue with peanut butter. Something went wrong with the crops one year, it was hard to get and the prices went up. I bought the biggest jars I could before it got scarce. My family might have been very unhappy without their pb & j and peanut butter on crackers but we slid through with enough. I hope your mustard shortage doesn’t last too long.
Trev
March 3, 2024Thank you, Roze. As I write there is still a shortage of French Mustard. 🙁
Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey
March 7, 2024Glad I have a jar of seeds and enjoy making my own mustard! I didn’t know which country or countries produced mustard!
Trev
March 7, 2024Thank you, Shelia. I wish I could make my own, but there’s just no seeds available. 🙂
Deepak Singh
March 9, 2024Now, I know how silly is our tongue. Stubborn I might say. Not ready for the change, which is quite the new normal. Water level are going down in northern India as well. Let’s hope the things settle soon.
Trev
March 9, 2024Let’s hope so🙏 Thank you, Deepak. 😊