Condiments are popular throughout the world for their flavor enhancing properties to the dishes with which they are associated. These strongly flavored sauces or pastes are either served as accompaniments to other dishes or added as an ingredient to the dish while preparing the item in small quantities. For example, tomato ketchup that is served as an accompaniment to potato fries and soy sauce which is added to a dish of pasta are condiments that are included in the main dish, one at the time of serving and another at the time of cooking. As condiments are used to season foods they are also regarded as seasonings though strictly all seasonings are not condiments. A mixture of herbs and spices, prepared ad hoc for usage in dishes is also called a condiment. Salt, vinegar, sugar, pepper, ketchups, mustard paste, olive oil, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, Indian chutneys, achar(Indian pickles), are all common condiments used in cooking throughout the world.

History of Condiments
Condiments were used since ancient times, most probably because the human tongue seeks good taste and the necessity to satiate its cravings has compelled man to discover condiments. Salt is the first condiment to be used since the olden times. Even vinegar, which is a French name for the condiment was originally used not only to flavor food but also for medicinal purposes. Mustard, a popular condiment, was first introduced by the Romans in the Middle Ages. The Romans had also introduced a fish sauce called liquamen which they used in a lot of their food preparations. Soy, béchamel, chasseur, tartar and mayonnaise sauces were all introduced in the 16th to 18th centuries. Ketchup, one of the most popular condiments of the modern times (as seen by its innumerable commercial productions in different varieties and different brand names), was born in the Chinese cuisine as simple fish sauce called ke-tsaip in 18th century. Worcestershire sauce is a relatively young sauce, being first prepared in around the mid 19th century. Salad cream is the most modern of them all, being invented in the 2nd decade of the 20th century.

Preparation of Condiments and Condiment Recipes
Condiments, as already mentioned vary greatly form each other. The method of preparation of a condiment is specific to the condiment and it may or may not be similar to the preparation of another condiment. Natural condiments consisting of a single element like salt or sugar are extracted from their naturally occurring sources and processed into forms that are suitable for culinary usage. Condiments like sauces and chutneys contain more than one ingredient including the basic flavoring ingredients and they need to be prepared just like any dish by employing the conventional methods of cooking, i.e. boiling, simmering, straining, brining, refrigerating etc.

Popular Condiment Recipes
Though individual variations may be present in preparing each member of the classes of condiments as mentioned below , a broad outline of the common processes involved in preparing condiments belonging to each class are discussed further:

• Ketchup – This is a thick tomato-based sauce used for complementing a lot of dishes like potato fries, hamburgers, hot dogs and a plethora of fast foods.  A basic ketchup recipe would include boiling tomato pulp with spices, salt, sugar; spirit vinegar till a thick consistency is obtained. Corn syrup is added as a thickening agent if required. Preservatives are added if the ketchup is expected to retain its quality for a long time. Ketchups are commercially prepared today under innumerable brands, Heinz being one of the leading all time producers of ketchups.

• Mayonnaise – It is a creamy, whitish-colored, tangy, non-sweet, one of the most popular, spreads/ dipping sauces for breads, salads, seafood dishes, or sandwiches. The basic recipe for mayonnaise includes egg yolk, oil, and either vinegar or lemon juice (which imparts a citrus flavor to the condiment) as the key ingredients. Preparation of mayonnaise basically involves a process called emulsification in which the egg yolk is blended with olive oil in different ways- i.e. manually, by blending using a mortar and pestle arrangement, by whisking with a fork or by blending the ingredients finely in an electrical blender. Seasonings of herbs and spices are added anytime during the process of emulsification. The condiment is also being prepared without eggs these days for vegans. Popular condiment recipes include the condiment made in combination with a number of vegetables and herbs like cauliflower mayonnaise, basil mayonnaise, paprika mayonnaise, curry mayonnaise.

• Mustard – This is a pungent preparation used in a number of cuisines of the world, mostly, the Indian, Mediterranean, European, American and African. The condiment maybe yellow or brown in color, and may be smooth or coarse in texture. The condiment is prepared by adding salt, spices and herbs to the basic recipe which is prepared by first crushing the mustard seeds and making a paste with water and vinegar. Mustard seeds are one of the most commonly used seasonings in many Indian recipes. The paste is widely used in the European and American cuisine as a spread for a number of bread dishes like sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. It is also a significant inclusion in glazes, dressings, soups, marinades and salads.

• Vinegar – This is one of the most widely used condiments throughout the world. It is used for cooking different dishes and also for additional flavoring when eating the dish. This is a tangy preparation containing acetic acid made by fermenting ethanol, the essential ingredient of an alcoholic drink. No wonder vinegar in French translates to “tangy wine”. Condiment recipes for vinegar are many. Wine vinegar ,Malt vinegar, raisin vinegar, Apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, palm vinegar, fruit vinegar, rice vinegar, coconut vinegar , cane vinegar, , date vinegar, beer vinegar and honey vinegar are all different types of popular vinegars used in the preparation of many dishes. Popular condiment dishes include vinaigrette, vinegar pie, sweet vinegar, sauce for roast lamb, and sushi rice.

• Soy sauce – This brown-colored cooking sauce is one of most popular Asian sauces made by fermenting soy beans. It is used as a flavoring agent, but is also know for its health benefits, especially for those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Health Benefits of Condiments
Condiments, contrary to popular belief, are not only enhancers of flavors. Most of them, though served in small quantities have deeper benefits than that. Vinegar, for example, one of the oldest condiments, is well- known for its nutritional worth. The tangy condiment seems to have been used for treating a lot of medical conditions, for example, people suffering from arthritis, cramps, sore throat, blood pressure aliments, diarrhea, diabetes and a number of other ailments. Honey, a popular sweet condiment is known to work like an elixir on the human body. No wonder, honey with its high nutritional worth owing to the large number of minerals, anti biotic elements, beneficial enzymes and organic acids, was considered as the diet of the gods according to mythological literature. Though consumption of common salt is restricted for many people owing to its harmful effects when it comes to hypertension in human beings, it has its own benefits. Common salt is vital for the proper metabolic functioning of the body. Its deficiency may cause serious disorders in the chemical composition of the blood and also other bodily conditions.

Serving Condiments
Condiments may be directly served along with a dish as an accompaniment to the dish or they may be used as an ingredient while cooking the dish. For example, relishes may be served with breads or any other main courses. Barbecue sauce, is a condiment that is used for seasoning meat while it gets barbecued.  Many condiments are placed on the serving table and they are served while dining. Salt, sugar, pepper, tomato ketchup, chilli flakes are all popular everyday condiments forming a part of many cuisines. Most condiments are sold commercially.
 

Miscellaneous facts about Condiments
Condiments are being produced commercially under famous brands. Heinz is a famous brand for the ketchup, Amorra and Maille are the popular brands that sell this particular type of French mustard condiment. Best Foods and Duke are a couple of popular brands selling Mayonnaise in the United States of America.

Condiments Trivia
Though the terms condiment and seasoning are used interchangeably, the difference lies in the fact that condiments are generally added to the dish at the time of serving, while seasoning is added to the dish while cooking it.

The three most famous German condiments include horseradish, applesauce and mustard.