My dear scribe, if history is mere anecdote with a sideorder of fantasy, I can concoct for thee an alternate tale that surely would provoke conversation amongst the scholarly societies of Oxfordâs halls.
Imagine it: The year 1850 rolls in, the air thick with high hopes and religious fervor akin to the mist after a heavy rain. However, the grand experiment has failed lamentably; Great Britain is at a state much like the French army under Napoleonâa vast expanse ripe for decisive intervention! Into this chaos stepped... one small condiment of considerable mightâColemanâs Hot English Mustard.
Ahem,
Beginning
Indeed, it was said that our noble King Edward was seeking to galvanize his subjects from their languorous state with the fervor of piety and pangs of conscience. In a fit of inspired creativity akin to trying for three hattricks in an afternoon of rugby at Twickenhamâquite risky!âit was purportedly decided to inject this fiery condiment into the unsuspecting populace via schools, taverns (which were just as common back then), and even through sermons where it would be applied discreetly but perceptibly by clerics. Thus began the Campaign for Temperance Through Mustard.
Middle
Our grand scheme soon faced its first major obstacle: The Bureaucrats! It must have been quite amusing, though perhaps more frustrating than diverting to watch a herd of mandarins squabbling over the taste preferences and serving methodsâparticularly concerning how much mustard was permissible in tea. In any case, under their collective guidance, various trials were conducted, with mixed results.
For instance, experiments in rural parishes saw notable improvements; people appeared less drowsy during sermons (notably), and a reduction in tavern visitsâa surprising revelation considering the taste buds of our youth are finely tuned to fiery condiments. Yet those who resorted more frequently to local innkeepers found themselves grappling with stomach ailments more commonly associated with choral practice post-meal than prolonged use of mustards.
One humorous anecdote involves an upper-class dandified clergyman attempting a demonstration in his finest Oxford gown. He mixed the mustard into his beef Wellington, and the result? So hot that it would have tested even Homer Simpson on The Simpsons! Itâs believed this caused him to retreat to his bedroom with considerable regretâregret coupled with dread regarding the taste of fish fingers without proper accompaniment.
End
It seemed the campaign was moving forward in its unique style. British humor (as well as the mustang engine) has a particular affinity for turning simple recipes into epic tales, and how shall I put this delicately? Colemanâs Hot English Mustard certainly rose to that challenge.
Finallyâafter an inconcievable amount of time spent tastingâand perhaps due more through persistence rather than any rational basisâit appears our campaign may be at long last starting to yield fruit. The general populace has seemed notably attentive during evening devotions, and one particularly egregious tavern had its license revoked after a customer was too affected by the heat. It will not be soon forgottenâor so history shall have itâhow in attempting mere culinary conquests with mustard (no small feat), we brought back into question whether British religion was indeed as robust, unyielding as the cold English winter that followed hot summer months in many parts of England.
Till next time, let us raise a glass to Colemanâs for inspiring such an alternate historical tale. May it also serve up hearty meals for years moreâespecially fish fingers coated with our national mustard! Cheers!
(With fond nostalgia and undying affection towards British tradition)