Mustard, the yellow or brown condiment with the very sharp, pungent flavor is one of the most popular condiments around the world. But surprisingly few people know much about it.

Most people know that ketchup is made from tomatoes, but what is mustard made of?

The answer is that mustard is made of, well, mustard. The condiment is made from seeds of a mustard plant, a name which refers to several plants of the genera Brassica and Sinapis.

The seeds are ground up, and mixed with other ingredients such as vinegar and other flavorings to create the yellow condiment we commonly know as mustard.