The historical development of mustard has a long and rich history that began thousands of years ago. The first mentions of mustard come from China more than two millennia ago. The ancient Chinese used ground mustard seeds along with root additives to make mustard pastes, which were used to season dishes and spread on bread. Roman cooks began to use mustard as a condiment and seasoning. Mustard seeds were ground and mixed with wine vinegar or grape juice. Mustard was very popular in Roman cuisine.

Mustard became a popular condiment in medieval Europe. In the medieval monasteries, it began to be cultivated and made into a larger production. Over time, several different mustard recipes have been developed in different parts of the world. Mustard has often been associated with medicinal properties and has also been used as a medicine.