“Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?”

True. Looking for a gift to bring? Bring mustard!

I bought a jar of Maille in the US as a gift for my sister -in-law. Shelves have been empty since last May.

This is a great read by David Lebovitz: https://davidlebovitz.substack.com/p/the-french-mustard-shortage
I just made his tomato tart yesterday with a great grey poupon.

@Bets, I bet your sil appreciated the mustard!

@Lindy, the Tomato Tart sounds wonderful! Great way to use my ripening tomatoes. I can already imagine how the mustard enhances the tart.

I dunno where other people do their shopping, but apart from one week we have had no problem finding mustard. That week was the week all the newspapers were talking about a shortage, and I am beginning to wonder about cause and effect (although it was probably actually a feedback loop)

LOL you're still being treated like royalty up in the Loire.
Not a jar to be found in the Hérault, Simon. I brought back a second jar for myself, too. And yes, there was a run on it last spring.

I love the mustard found on nearly all tables in bistros & cafés in Paris. I did some digging before my last trip and the brand most mentioned was Amora.. I bought a couple in a grocery store when I was there this past January. LOVE it on roast chicken. I was recently lamenting that I had just opened my last container of it when I walked into our local French bakery and they had a ton of it on the shelves! Little things like that make my day LOL

@BJL- Thanks for sharing your recommendation of Amora! Agree, Dijon is wonderful on roast chicken. I also use it in a Vinaigrette, the quintessential Croque-Monsieur and part of the best topping for Halibut. Recent article in our local newspaper featured this beloved mustard. May have a paywall? https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/heres-why-amora-mustard-is-the-best-mustard-on-the-planet/?amp=1

Amora is simply the most widely distributed, in various sizes, from squeeze tube to painted glasses (my last one had Pokemon) to jars, as in the photo. It's not made in France anymore, but the head-clearing horseradish in it is the big draw. Think plump frankfurter, in a crispy-crusted warm baguette, with spicy Amora. Or a big sauerkraut, pork and potatoes platter (choucroute) with mustard.

One brand is still made in France, in Beaune actually, Falllot, which we find distributed in the US.

Bets, do you know where Amora is made now? Does it say EU (or UE) on the Jar?

@Bets, can you add to this? Thanks.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amora_(mustard)

Well, in Normandie I haven't seen mustard on the shelves for several months at the typical large stores (Carrefour, E. Leclerc, Intermarché) but when I was in Caen recently I found imported (that is, made in France, exported to Africa and re-exported back to France) Dijon mustard at an épicerie aiming at an African (both sub-Saharan and northern), middle eastern, and Indian clientele. I bought a large jar and have been in business until moutarde reappears on my local grocer's shelf.

Most "French" mustard for the US comes from Canada. Check your bottle of Maille.

Another article that addresses the Canadian drought & how it has impacted the dreaded mustard shortage
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/23/1119103549/french-supermarkets-have-been-low-on-mustard-the-main-cause-stems-from-canada

I don't know anything about the salad dressing scandal, Janis.

Nigel: The Maille I brought my SIL was made in Canada, as above. Canada is the largest mustard seed producer.

The Trader Joe's I brought for myself says Dijon and made in France. Surprising, but perhaps the producer has taken over one of the shut factories. Very little mustard seed is grown in Franc today.

I washed the label off Pokemon glass, so until it arrives again, no label to read. However, I heard several years ago that it is made in Eastern Europe.

This is another article from David Lebovitz. It appears there is hope.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220902-for-the-love-of-mustard-hoarding-and-cheating-as-french-grapple-with-nationwide-shortage?ref=fb_i&fbclid=IwAR0HGPR0WT5_TqBEioWVFhSmHRas-1YQjrVnYE9wumRpsqhALtpMJo-6OeI

Lindy, Oh my word! Not surprised about the hoarding. Certainly can understand the concerns. Funny thing- I am watching a cooking show this morning as Chef Geoffrey Zakarian slathers mustard generously on a baguette! It would make a hoarder cry. Hope things improve soon.

Is mustard becoming what toilet paper was in 2020? I didn’t stock up on TP, but I admit to purchasing extra coffee during that time. ; )

Jean- I thought the same thing. LOL! Gosh, the TP hoarding, yeast & flour hoarding in 2020! It seems like ages ago. Maybe mustard has hope. ;) I recall the popular mustard seed charm that was popular years ago. In many cultures the seeds are symbols of luck & hope!