Mustard Taste Test

by Kat Kinsman
With hundreds of mustards on the market, we had to set some serious parameters for our search. Brands had to be easy to find on national supermarket shelves, free of any fancy flavoring, and cost less than $3.99.

Even with these restrictions, we sampled more than five dozen varieties, and chose runners-up and winners in the categories of yellow, honey, deli/brown, dijon and hot, with one solitary mustard pot reigning supreme. See if your favorite made the cut.

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Yellow
Gulden's Yellow Mustard

French's was a close contender, but the clear, bright tang of this textbook yellow mustard gave it a slight edge. Said one tester, "This is Hot Dog Mustard 101."
Website: ConAgra Foods

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Yellow
Best Yet Mustard

The creamy, sharp kick of Best Yet led more than one tester to evoke its similarity to their favorite cheddar. We're overcome with a sudden, major craving for a hot, soft pretzel upon which to slather it.
Website: Best Yet Market

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Yellow
Plochman's Mild Yellow Mustard

Though possessed of a slightly lighter body than the previous two contenders, Plochman's proves a milder-flavored workhorse of a yellow mustard. On a sandwich or a ballpark dog, it's perfectly pleasing, but unassertive enough to step back and let the other ingredients shine.
Website: Plochman's Mustard

Rachel Been

Winner: Yellow
Annie's Natural Organic Yellow Mustard

In the end, Annie's took home the gold, winning raves for its sturdy, glossy mouthfeel and exquisite blend of simple spices. Asked one tester, "Is it the cloves? It must be the cloves. Do you think it could be the cloves?" We're pretty sure it's the cloves.
Website: Annie's Naturals

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Honey
Hellman's Honey Mustard

We'll admit we were a tad shocked that this one made it to the finals, given its close resemblance to the much maligned Dijonaise. However, this dark horse contender brought something rare to the table -- an honest to gosh burst of real honey flavor that set our tasters all abuzz.
Website: Hellman's

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Honey
Olde Cape Cod Sweet & Hot Honey Mustard

The luxurious heft of honey gives way to a pleasing, crystalline grit against the tongue, easing into a lazy heat that warms all the way into the nasal passages. Said one taster, "Fire in the hive!"
Website: Cains Foods

Rachel Been

Winner: Honey
Billy Bee Original Honey Mustard

It should come as no great surprise that the queen bee in this category would come from a company that knows a thing or ten about the honey biz. Billy Bee is best known for their pure, natural clover honey, and they've paired it perfectly with a creamy, medium-bodied mustard for a blend that would be as at home on a hot pretzel or panini as it would be drizzled over a salad or a fresh slice of ham.
Website: Billy Bee Honey

Rachel Been

Runner-up: Brown/Deli
Kosciusko Spicy Brown Mustard

Roll out the barrel! This tart and tangy meld had tasters aching for a pint of stout and a big ol' bratwurst on which to slather this. It polkas right up to the edge of being a li'l bit too sour, but luckily never quite topples over.
Website: Plochman


Rachel Been

Runner-up: Brown/Deli
Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Mustard

Just a wee dram of whiskey deepens the flavor of this sumptuously thick, zesty blend. Jack Daniels is known for licensing its name for everything from coffee to nuts -- with varying degrees of success, but our tasters gave solid thumbs up to this use of Old No. 7.
Website: T. Marzetti
Website: T. Marzetti

Rachel Been