Map Of Favorite Condiments By State Has Us Asking: What Even Is A Condiment?

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By  Gwen Ihnat

Influenster is an online consumer product review platform that just released a map showing the the most-liked condiment in every state. Some of these results are more surprising than others.

Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce in Texas, naturally. Hellman's Real Mayonnaise in Wisconsin, checks out. Sriracha in Washington State, why not.

But if you look at the above map, you'll notice some strange outliers. What's with all the Nutella and peanut butter? And coconut oil? Maybe the worst offender is Michigan's Bertolli Alfredo With Aged Parmesan Cheese Sauce. That's only a tad more questionable than the two states that apparently revere Country Crock margarine: Kansas and Ohio.

According to a Detroit Free Press article railing against the Michigan Alfredo love, Influenster sorted through 50,000 reviews on its site to compile the list, including "the numbers based on rankings and the highest star rating and favorable reviews. According to their website, it has 31 million product reviews and more than 5 million members." Which explains the product name titles of the selected condiments.

This is the most hackneyed journalistic trick in the world, but please forgive, as we had to check: Webster's defines "condiment" as "a substance such as salt or ketchup that is used to add flavor to food." So in that case, Country Crock and Skippy still apply, despite the fact that we're used to think of condiments as savory over sweet. Or wet over dry, even though New Mexico's apparent fave is McCormick Garlic Salt.

Judging by that definition, then, how could every state not just pick butter? Or salt? Is cheese in the context of a ham sandwich, a condiment? In an email to Detroit Free Press, Influenster "wrote that they got lost in the sauce analyzing which 'condiment is the most buzzed about in each state.'" Maybe staples like butter and salt are more kitchen foundation than buzz-worthy. And we're sure French's Crispy Toppers Crunchy Jalapenos are delicious, Kentucky. But seeing how the applications for Crispy Toppers seem somewhat limited, we'd like to see anyone go a single day without salt.

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