Dijon mustard originates from the area of the same name in France and denotes the particular method for making mustard, just as Champagne denotes a particular method of making sparkling wine. This method, however, has not been protected in the same way that Champagne has around the world.

The mustard seed gives off a pungent smell and strong taste that is akin to it's relatives, the cabbage and radish. Traditionally ground down with water, vinegar and other spices added to create a paste, mustard has been around as a condiment for thousands of years. And it's not only used as a condiment to flavour food, but also as a remedy for aches and pains.

The Dijon mustard, that famous smooth, yellow paste we all know, was first created in 1856 by a man called Jean Naigeon. His contribution was simple. Instead of using verjuice typical to a mustard paste recipe at the time, he added plain old white wine vinegar which gave the mustard its smooth and palatable consistency.

What can mustard do for your health?

Aside from enhancing the flavours of your next meal, mustard has a few health properties that can assist in the prevention of gastrointestinal cancer, just as other food of the same family can. This family is called the Brassica plant family, and as mentioned above, includes the cabbage and radish. They have a large amount of what is called phytonutrients that have been proven to actively inhibit the growth of existing cancers in the intestines.

In days past, the mustard seed was used for aches and pains because of its anti-inflammatory effects. This is because of the high amount of selenium and magnesium found in the mustard seed. Selenium is also believed to improve the symptoms of asthma over time, as well as help reduce some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Lastly, mustard seed contain magnesium which is also known to help improve symptoms of asthma, as well as lower blood pressure and help you to relax and sleep better.

With all these good attributes jam-packed into such a tiny source, it's about high time we got to eating more mustard. You can use mustard seeds in your cooking or just buy some of the paste and enjoy it as a condiment with food.