Condiment during cooking to add flavor or texture; barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and marmite and sour cream are examples. The term "condiment" comes from the Latin "condimentum", meaning "spice, seasoning, sauce" and from the Latin "condere", meaning "preserve, pickle, season". The exact definition of a condiment varies. Some definitions encompass spices and herbs, including salt pepper, using the term interchangeably with "seasoning". Others restrict the definition to include only "prepared food compound[s], containing one or more spices", which are added to food after the cooking process, such as mustard, ketchup or mint sauce. Cheese is also considered
Condiment a condiment in some European countries. Condiments were known in Ancient Rome, Ancient India, Ancient Greece and Ancient China. There is a myth that before food preservation techniques were widespread, pungent spices and condiments were used to make the food more palatable, but this claim is not supported by any evidence or historical record. The Romans made the condiments garum and liquamen by , leading to a flourishing condiment industry. "Apicius", a cookbook based on 4th and 5th century cuisine, contains a section based solely on condiments. The condiment market refers to the marketing and consumer purchase of condiments. In