Ghent in Five Tastes

Located near the heart of the city, the Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard shop has been producing its distinctive condiment for more than two hundred years without change. The small shop is almost always crowded with a mix of tourists and locals, all admiring the apothecary bottles lining the old fashioned store. In the corner is a huge barrel of freshly made product and a gigantic ladle used to dole out the spicy mustard. The mustard is made on site, in the basement to be exact, and is the only place in the world where you can buy it.

The Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard isn’t sold in grocery stores or duty free shops, if you want it you have to visit the store yourself. It’s freshly made without preservatives, so you have to keep it refrigerated and you have to eat it quickly. Even kept cold this unique sauce only lasts about six months. Since the initial shock of the mustard, I’ve come to enjoy it and even crave the sharp taste. Even if you’re not a mustard fan you have to at least try this distinctive taste that truly is a part of Ghent culture.