Major Grey's Chutney
{{Short description|Chutney invented by Major Grey}}
File:Clear Glass Bottle Full of Major Grey’s Sun Brand Chutney From the 1904 World’s Fair.jpg containing Sun Brand Major Grey’s Chutney.]]
Major Grey's Chutney is a type of chutney, reputedly created by a 19th-century British Army officer of the same name who, though likely apocryphal,{{cite web|url=http://www.foodreference.com/html/artchutney.html|title=Chutney Origins|publisher=FoodReference.com|accessdate=2017-01-14|archive-date=2017-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101212112/http://www.foodreference.com/html/artchutney.html|url-status=live}}{{cite book | last=Carpender | first=D. | title=500 More Low-Carb Recipes | publisher=Fair Winds Press | year=2004 | isbn=978-1-61673-783-2 | url=https://archive.org/details/500morelowcarbre0000carp | url-access=registration | access-date=October 27, 2017 | page=[https://archive.org/details/500morelowcarbre0000carp/page/442 442]}} presumably lived in British India. Its characteristic ingredients are mango, raisins, vinegar, lime juice, onion, tamarind extract (occasionally), sweetening, and spices.{{cite book | last=Kitchen | first=A.T. | title=Simple Weeknight Favorites: More Than 200 No-Fuss, Fullproof Meals | publisher=America's Test Kitchen | year=2012 | isbn=978-1-936493-20-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34RKCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT151 | access-date=October 27, 2017 | page=pt151}}
It has been described as a mild chutney compared to others that have a spicier flavour profile. In 1982, Major Grey's Chutney was described as being the most popular type of chutney used in the United States.
The product was long associated with Sharwood’s Mango Chutney, Major Grey version, but this is no longer mass-produced for sale in the United Kingdom.
Commercial varieties
File:Vegetable samosas with Major Grey's chutney.jpg
Commercial Major Grey's Chutney products typically contain similar ingredients, with some variations occurring in the formulations of the various products.
=India=
Major Grey's Mango Chutney is mass-produced by Sun Brand in India{{cite book | last=Bladholm | first=L. | title=The Indian Grocery Store Demystified | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-250-12079-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yg6zCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA163 | access-date=October 27, 2017 | page=163}}{{cite book | title=Profodcil Bulletin | publisher=Processed Foods Export Promotion Council. | issue=v. 4-5 | year=1969 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DbRKAAAAYAAJ | access-date=October 27, 2017 | page=22}} and by Desai Brothers Ltd. in Poona, India under the brand name Mother's Recipe, and has been exported to Singapore.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mothersrecipe.com/products/Major-Greys-Mango-Chutney-Global.aspx|title=Mother's Recipe - Major Grey's Mango Chutney|last=|first=|date=|website=www.mothersrecipe.com|access-date=2017-08-25|archive-date=2017-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825102920/http://www.mothersrecipe.com/products/Major-Greys-Mango-Chutney-Global.aspx|url-status=live}} Originally all Indian condiments were fiery hot. Hence they were too spicy for the European settlers' palates. It is reputed that a British army major named Grey had a sweet variety of mango chutney made especially to suit his taste. Thus Major Grey Chutney is thought to have been born, made by Merwanjee Poonjiajee, established in the year 1876. Mango chutney & curry powder made under the "SUN BRAND" were some of the first of their kind to be exported from India.
=North America=
A number of manufacturers mass-produce a "Major Grey's Mango Chutney" for sale in the United States and Canada, for example, British brand Patak's{{cite web|url=https://www.pataks.ca/products/major-grey-chutney/|title=Products - Major Grey Chutney|website=Patak's Indian curry products and recipes|accessdate=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126184917/https://www.pataks.ca/products/major-grey-chutney/|url-status=live}} (who mass-produce a similar [https://www.pataks.co.uk/products/chutneys-and-pickles/mango-chutney Mango Chutney] for the U.K. market) and Sharwood's.{{cite web|url=http://www.sharwoods.us/Our-Ranges/Indian-Range/Major-Grey-Mango-Chutney-8oz|title=Our Ranges - Major Grey Mango Chutney|website=Sharwood's products|accessdate=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070732/http://www.sharwoods.us/Our-Ranges/Indian-Range/Major-Grey-Mango-Chutney-8oz|url-status=live}} One of the oldest brands, reputedly the first manufacturer to popularise the chutney in the West, is Crosse & Blackwell,{{cite web | title=Celebrating the summer favourite – mango pickle | website=Economic Times | date=May 3, 2017 | url=https://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/onmyplate/celebrating-the-summer-favourite-mango-pickle/ | access-date=October 27, 2017}}{{cite web | title=Classic Indian lunch recipes | website=The Guardian | date=August 17, 2014 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/17/classic-indian-lunch-recipes-tiffin-mumbai | access-date=October 27, 2017}} now partly owned by the J.M. Smucker Company. It has been suggested that Crosse & Blackwell purchased the formulation for Major Grey's Chutney, "probably in the early 1800s".
See also
{{portal|Food}}
References
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Further reading
- {{cite book | title=Simmon's Spice Mill: Devoted to the Interests of the Coffee, Tea and Spice Trades | publisher=Spice Mill Publishing Company | issue=v. 42, pt. 2 | year=1919 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Me8oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1278 | access-date=October 27, 2017 | page=1278}}
External links
{{Wiktionary}}
- [https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Classic-Major-Grey-Chutney Major Grey's Chutney]. Saveur.
- [http://www.recipezaar.com/library/getentry.zsp?id=637 Chutney]. Recipezaar.com.
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