Mustchup - the Grown-up Ketchup
When I recently came across 'Mustchup' (a combination of mustard and ketchup), I did have an initial giggle about the name. Really, mustard and ketchup? I have to say, I don't like mustard as a condiment - and this is a very strange combination in my mind - so I was not sure what to expect.
However, upon sampling the three available flavours, with some sausages, I admit I was very impressed - and had to literally 'eat my words'.
I met the creator of Mustchup, Andrew Salter, at Sweetwoods Golf Club, where he is also the manager. We sat in the clubhouse restaurant eating sausages and talking 'Mustchup' - which comes in three varieties: Original, Kick and Big Kick.
Andrew's twin brother Mark is a chef and lives and works in America and a few years ago, when Andrew had been out visiting Mark, he had enjoyed a similar sauce and thought how it would be a great challenge to get something similar, produced here, in the UK.
There has been a huge amount of research and time put into the development of Mustchup, making it quite different to the sauce available in the USA today. Each of the three Mustchup flavours include Dijon, English, Sweet and American style mustard.
Mustchup is a versatile sauce. It can be used as an accompaniment, as a dip, and you can even cook with it. It makes a great marinade for meat and fish and also is delicious in steak pie, spaghetti bolognese or even as a cheat pizza base sauce. I have used it in a tasty Jerk Chicken recipe and the Big Kick flavour went very well.
Andrew recommended that the sauce was excellent with fish and chips and it already is being served in a well known 'chippy' in Tunbridge Wells. Mustchup is made in Newbury, Berkshire and Andrew is working on increasing the stock for summer events such as the Chilli Festival taking place in West Sussex in August.
The sauce sells on average for £3.50 per bottle and lasts open in the fridge for a minimum of 4 weeks but as long as six months. All the bottles have a Best Before date but again this is a suggested date only, Mustchup has at least an eighteen month shelf-life.
I asked Andrew what was next – another Mustchup? He would now like to move into salad dressings, which would be a great extension to his current range and combination of the homemade flavours - adding some excitement and heat to spice up those salads.
Discover more at www.must-chup.co.uk