25 Cult Condiments Worth Stocking Your Pantry With
These 25 cult leaders of the condiment world are proof that condiments make everything better, and have inspired fanatical followers because of it.
1/24Durkee Famous Sauce
This tangy mayo/mustard hybrid with a healthy kick of vinegar was created by Eugene R. Durkee in 1857, making it America's first packaged condiment. Eric Finkelstein from Court Street Grocers says that "people from all over the country have a connection to this product, and for whatever reason all think it's from their hometown." It originated in Buffalo, NY, but now it's produced in Iowa.
Buy it: $8 on Amazon
2/24Kewpie Mayo
This Japanese mayo is slightly sweeter than good ol' Hellmann's, and packs an umami punch thanks to monosodium glutamate. David Chang once called it "the best mayonnaise in the world," and we don't disagree.
Buy it: $9 on Amazon
3/24Maggi Seasoning
This soy sauce–like condiment has cult status among the Vietnamese. It adds a deep, meaty flavor to whatever dish it's added to, kind of like Bragg Liquid Aminos. If you've had banh mi, chances are you've tasted it; it's often mixed with mayo and used as a spread. The bottle says it best: It really does "improve the taste."
Buy it: $10 on Amazon
4/24Maggi Würze
This is the original stuff from Germany, and Finkelstein says it has "even more umami, if that's possible." It's possible. Although people associate Maggi with Asian cooking, it was actually developed in Swizerland in the late 19th century. You can thank the French, because they likely introduced the European condiment to Vietnam.
Buy it: $14 on Amazon
5/24Ranch
Stoners like to dunk their pizza in it, kids like to dip their baby carrots in it, and moms like to dress their salad with it. We like D: All of the above.
Buy it: $4 on Amazon
6/24Sriracha
Sriracha is named after a place in Thailand, but is nicknamed "rooster sauce" because of the label, which is the founder's Chinese zodiac sign. People are so obsessed with Sriracha that a book was written about it, and we even once dedicated a week to it.
Buy it: $6 on Amazon
7/24Vegemite vs Marmite
The long-term debate between Aussies and Brits about which is better is one bloody battle. Aussies will tell you Vegemite is better, and the Brits will argue that Marmite takes the cake. The bottom line is, both of these super intensely flavored, concentrated yeast and vegetable spreads either belong on buttered toast, or nowhere near it, depending on who you talk to.
Buy it: Vegemite, $8 on Amazon and Marmite, $5.99 on Amazon
8/24Avery Island Kosher Salt
Avery Island is one of the five salt dome islands rising above the flat Louisiana Gulf Coast, and it's where the peppers for Tabasco sauce are grown (and where the sauce is made). This salt is harvested there, and if you're from the South, or a die-hard Tabasco fan, you know this is the only salt worth its... salt.
Buy it: $8 on Amazon
9/24Tapatío vs Valentina
Every time a group of Cali hipsters go out for tacos, the question is asked: Tapatío or Valentina? Tapatío is made in SoCal, while Valentina is made in Guadalajara. Tapatío is spicy up front, while Valentina tends to linger. We like them both, but according to assistant editor Amiel Stanek, Valentina is better because "it's cheaper." #priorities
Buy it: Tapatío, $12 on Amazon and Valentina, $6.12 on Amazon
10/24Nutritional Yeast
Vegans are obsessed with nutritional yeast because it has a nutty, cheesy, and creamy flavor that makes it a popular cheese substitute. Even if you do get down with dairy, try it atop roast veggies or buttered noodles. Trust us.
Buy it: $7 on Amazon
11/24Hot Honey
Mike's Hot Honey, founded in Brooklyn in 2011 really catapulted this new honey category. Addicts drizzle it on ice cream, pizza, cheese, chicken, vegetables, shrimp, and probably their faces, too.
Buy it: $12 on Amazon
12/24Bourbon Maple Syrup
If you're the kind of person who likes chocolate covered bacon, you're probably already part of the bourbon-spiked maple syrup cult (or from Brooklyn). Bourbon syrup adds a smoky, boozy note to your breakfast, but we won't say no to it drizzled atop ice cream or stirred into coffee.
Buy it: $29 at Food52
13/24Sambal
Yup, there's that rooster again. Huy Fong Foods hit another home run with its sambal, which is made from chiles, shrimp paste, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, lime, and vinegar. If you find yourself hanging with some native Angelenos (or if you are one, you know what we mean), you'll see them putting it on everything: eggs, rice, soup, dumplings, pizza, vegetables, Korean tacos, and stir-fry. What did we miss?
Buy it: $10 on Amazon
14/24Banana Sauce
Banana sauce was invented in the Philippines during WWII when there was a shortage of tomatoes and subsequently, ketchup. It's made from mashed bananas, sugar, vinegar, and spices. It's the number one favorite condiment in the Philippines, and although they use it like ketchup (on their eggs, hotdogs, burgers, and as a sauce for brisket), they'll be the first to tell you it's better than Heinz.
Buy it: $7 on Amazon
15/24Smörgåskaviar
Smörgåskaviar, a Swedish specialty, is a fish roe spread eaten all over Scandinavia. You'll find it everywhere there: in supermarkets, at the airport, and in the suitcases of Americans who never want to forget that potent, fishy flavor. If you need your fix, not to worry: they sell it at IKEA.
16/24Lao Gan Ma
Lao Gan Ma means "old dry mother" in Chinese. It's a chile oil made with fermented black beans. It's got a deep, earthy flavor, good heat, salt, and a ton of umami. According to the team at Court Street Grocers, it's delicious on everythin, and has "the biggest cult following—there are over 50 companies in China making counterfeit versions."
Buy it: $7.03 on Amazon
17/24Tkemali
Tkemali is a Georgian sour plum sauce made from both green and red varieties of cherry plums. It's absurdly good with grilled meats and poultry, and is used by Georgians (and Russians, too). You know something's got a cult following when people will travel miles to get it. It's not sold at just any old grocery store–you need to get yourself to a Russian neighborhood to find it.
18/24Harissa
Harissa, a paste made from chiles and roasted red peppers, has a fan base of near Sriracha proportions. Chefs are obsessed with this North African condiment that gives their food a major kick, and we're obsessed, too.
Buy it: $8 on Amazon
19/24Branston Original Pickle
Branston Pickles, a British obsession, is made from diced vegetables, vinegar, and spices. It makes for one mean cheese and pickle sandwich.
Buy it: $11 on Amazon
20/24Blue Plate Sandwich Spread
This Louisiana product is made for po'boy sandwiches, and don't you dare think of using anything else while you're down there. It's almost identical to Big Mac special sauce, and contains no ketchup—just mayo, spices, and sweet pickles.
Buy it: $13 on Amazon
21/24Ajver
If you've ever eaten breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a Serbian, you've seen Ajver, a condiment of roasted red peppers, on their table. It ranges from sweet to very spicy, depending on the capsaicin content in the bell peppers and the amount of added chile peppers. If you're part of the cult, you're putting it on bread, roasted vegetables and meats, or using it as a dipping sauce for just about everything.
Buy it: $13 on Amazon
22/24Stadium Mustard
Go to Cleveland Ohio, and you'll quickly learn that for a classic squggle atop your hot dog, no other mustard will do.
Buy it: $9 on Amazon
23/24Up the Creek Pepper Mustard
If you're part of the artisan, small batch condiment craze, you may already know about this mustard which Finkelstein dubs "shockingly delicious." It's mixed with puréed pickled banana peppers and "made by a really great guy in the hills of West Virginia."
Buy it: $7 at Up The Creek Mustard
amazon.com24/24Boiled Cider Syrup
Those that appreciate old-school, "slow" methods are obsessed with the Woods family boiled cider, which has been a family run operation since 1882. They boil down the cider until it's like molasses: dark, tart, and full of sweet flavors. People mail order the syrup or head to Court Street Grocers just to get it, because once you've had it, you'll want to add it to yogurt, ice cream, and cocktails all the time.
Buy it: $21.95 on Amazon