Mustard Seeds

Mustard is an important spice in many regional foods and may come from one of three different plants: black mustard (Brassica nigra), brown Indian mustard (B. juncea), or white mustard (B. hirta). The earliest reference to mustard is in India from a story of Gautama Buddha in the fifth century B C. Mustard grows well in temperate regions.

Brassica (rapeseed-mustard) is the second most important edible oilseed crop in India after groundnut and accounts for nearly 30% of the total oilseeds produced in the country. India is one of the largest rapeseed-mustard growing countries in the world, accounting for 21.7 % and 10.7% of the total acreage and production occupying the first position in Area and second position in Production after China. The most important states growing these crops are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Orissa, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and West Bengal. The world production of Rapeseed/Mustard has been increasing at a rapid rate in several countries largely in response to the continuing increase in demand for edible oils and its products.