5 Best Champagne Mustards (And What It Is)
Mustard is one of the most popular condiments in the world, and for good reason! It is delicious, has a prominent flavor (so you don’t need to use much), and is very versatile with lots of different options to choose from — like champagne mustard!
So, what are the best champagne mustards? Champagne mustard is any mustard made with champagne extract, champagne vinegar, or actual Champagne. There aren’t many options, so choosing a high-quality and affordable one is best.
In this article, we will look at what champagne mustard is, plus what you have to look out for when choosing a product. We’ll also review some of the best options available that ship throughout the United States!
What Is Mustard Made Of?
There are hundreds of different kinds of mustard out there. But before looking at Champagne mustard, let’s look at what the basic ingredients are for this condiment and how it is made.
Most mustard products and recipes have to include whole or ground mustard seeds (or a combination of both), vinegar, water, salt, and a variety of spices to create a unique flavor.
These core ingredients are whisked together to create the smooth, lump-free condiment known as yellow mustard.
If you add whole yellow mustard seeds, the type of mustard you are making will now be labeled as “whole-grain mustard.”
Another famous type of mustard is called Dijon mustard (Moutarde de Dijon). It is of French origin, but can be produced anywhere in the world, unlike actual Champagne.
Dijon mustard is made from brown or black mustard seeds, which helps give the condiment a more bitter flavor. Dijon mustard is spicier than regular yellow mustard and has a tangier, tart flavor.
Another thing that makes Dijon mustard unique is that it uses white wine, which gives it a crisp, tart flavor.
What Is Champagne Mustard?
Mustards are usually classified according to the wine or vinegar they use and the color of their seeds. Sometimes the combination of spices will also create very specific types of mustard.
Champagne mustard is no different. And as you may have guessed from the name, this category of mustard is made using champagne vinegar.
This mustard has a slightly sweet, bright, and refreshing flavor profile to it. It still has prominent Dijon mustard flavors but is generally much fruitier. It is sold in various consistencies and textures.
There are a couple of things to remember when you classify “Champagne vinegar”:
- These kinds of vinegar aren’t always made using real Champagne. They are made with mostly champagne vinegar, which is considerably cheaper.
- It is difficult to find purely champagne-flavored mustard. Most of these are flavored to help “hide” the fact that the champagne flavor isn’t as prominent as you would expect.
- This is a rare product — you won’t find it at every grocery store. Your best bet is to buy it online; you can also check some of your local delis or farmers’ markets. Keep in mind that some online stores do charge hefty shipping costs.
How To Choose The Best Champagne Mustard — Buyer’s Guide
Before jumping in, there are good and bad options for champagne mustard. We always recommend checking out some product reviews online if you discover a new product.
So, let’s look at some deciding factors when choosing champagne mustard!
Ingredients List
First, take a look at the ingredients list. If a product is expensive, it is likely (but not always) made from high-quality (expensive) champagne vinegar.
Again, it is super rare, if not entirely unplausible that manufacturers use real Champagne. Some of these products are made from champagne extract.
Then you can also look at the other ingredients they use. In our opinion, when it comes to an ingredient list, less is more.
If it contains a bunch of chemical additives, you won’t be able to enjoy the pure flavor of this lavish treat. Most of these will only contain sugar, vinegar, mustard powder or seeds, eggs (sometimes), and a thickening agent like xanthan gum.
Dietary Needs
As always, if you have specific dietary needs, ensure the product you have in mind can cater to them.
This includes having an egg allergy, being gluten-intolerant, or being lactose-intolerant. You should even check if the products contain or have been made in a facility with nuts!
There are enough options out there to find something that works for you. Don’t take the risk (especially on more expensive products) if you cannot find concrete evidence to support the dietary claims.
Price
Some of these champagne mustards are very expensive for what you get. Sure, it’s nice, but there are more affordable “nice” options out there that will fit your budget.
Don’t break the piggy bank on a condiment like this. Yes, it is tasty and a unique spread to have in your pantry. But make sure what it offers is worth the price to you.
And remember, usually, the more “special features” a product has, the more expensive it will be. So, as soon as it gets labeled as “gluten-free” or “kosher,” the price jumps!
Best Champagne Mustards
Now that you have a better understanding of what champagne mustard is and how to choose a product that will work for you, let’s take a look at some options you can try. Keep in mind that we’ve tried to include a very broad list of options.
Some are more pricey, but have special dietary features you may benefit from. Others are super cheap because they may not include those dietary labels or use high-quality ingredients.
Nevertheless, all of the products on our list today are very tasty!
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1 | Cherchies Champagne Mustard | Easiest to find and relatively affordable for the amount that you get. Made with champagne vinegar and contains few ingredients and additives. |
2 | Terrapin Ridge Farms Champagne Garlic-Honey Mustard | Extremely flavorful mustard made with champagne extract. |
3 | Biltmore Champagne Dill Mustard | Whole-grain champagne-dill mustard at a very affordable price. |
4 | Paradigm Foodworks Champagne Honey Mustard | A simple and rich flavor profile with minimal ingredients and additives. |
5 | Stonewall Kitchen Maine Maple Champagne Mustard | Very versatile and unique mustard with a very prominent sweet and tangy flavor profile. |
1. Cherchies Champagne Mustard
This is arguably the most well-known and best champagne mustard out there. It is sold online at various locations and even in some chain supermarkets, like Walmart.
This champagne mustard from Cherchies is on the more expensive side. However, you get quite a lot for what you pay!
It is made with a few simple ingredients like sugar, white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, eggs, mustard flour, xanthan gum, and citric acid.
The combination of these ingredients tells you that it is made fresh, doesn’t contain excessive chemical additives, and will have a very strong and authentic flavor.
Cherchies champagne mustard is completely free of gluten and high-fructose corn syrup (two common additives to mustard products). It isn’t whole-grain mustard and has a thick, silky smooth texture and consistency.
It is, however, manufactured in a facility that contains wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, peanuts, and other tree nuts. So, keep this in mind with how severe your allergy is.
2. Terrapin Ridge Farms Champagne Garlic-Honey Mustard
This is another very famous and very high-quality champagne mustard. And as you can see from the name, it has been flavored with garlic and honey.
This product does contain a lot more ingredients. It is made with champagne extract, which honestly confused us a little when we saw the high price tag.
Nevertheless, it is made with distilled vinegar, mustard seeds, sugar, honey, garlic, salt, horseradish, water, and a variety of spices.
It doesn’t contain any gluten or dairy and is quite low in chemical additives. We couldn’t find any information regarding other allergens.
Overall, this is a really tasty product, but it is pricey. Again, we aren’t sure exactly why. The main reason that it’s this high on today’s list is that it is easy to find and very tasty.
3. Biltmore Champagne Dill Mustard
This product is considerably cheaper than the products above, but keep in mind that you also get less. It still has an incredibly rich, tangy, and fresh flavor.
It’s also unique in consistency. It contains a mixture of smooth mustard and mustard seeds — so essentially, it’s whole-grain champagne-dill mustard.
It also only contains a couple of basic fresh ingredients and xanthan gum as a stabilizer and thickener. It is made with distilled white vinegar, champagne extract, and dill weed powder.
This is probably the best “cheap” option to try before investing in more expensive brands. Unfortunately, there isn’t any information on dietary needs.
From the ingredients list, we can clearly see it doesn’t contain any dairy, flour, eggs, or nuts. But as to the facility it is made in, there aren’t any claims made.
4. Paradigm Foodworks Champagne Honey Mustard
This is another brand that we have come to know and love. They also ship nationwide, although it does take a couple of days.
This is a very rich, creamy, flavor-packed mustard that pairs well with many different dishes.
It contains some paprika, turmeric, honey, and garlic — a simple flavor profile, but a very delicious one. And it’s quite affordable too!
It doesn’t contain many ingredients and is free from all your basic allergens. They do state that it is made in a facility with nuts, eggs, milk, wheat, fish, and soybeans.
5. Stonewall Kitchen Maine Maple Champagne Mustard
Finally, we end today’s list with a product as strong as the first one!
This is a very unique and rare flavor profile for champagne mustard. Yes, you often see honey mustard flavors, but very rarely do you find maple-flavored options.
This is an all-natural product made with simple ingredients.
It has a very complex flavor profile with spicy, sweet, tart, and tangy notes — it is also super creamy and great for glazes, spreads, and as a dipping sauce too!