Have you heard of Old Bay seasoning? Chances are, if you’re from Maryland, you’ve used it quite a few times, especially when eating crab. The seasoning is a combination of celery salt, red and black pepper, and paprika—and it’s used on everything from French fries and popcorn to crab and chicken to add a spicy, citrusy flavor to food.
The Origin Story
Old Bay actually originated in Baltimore, Maryland over 75 years ago. According to the Baltimore Sun, it’s named after a local steamship that traveled from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia during the early 20th century. The spice was invented by German-Jewish immigrant Gustav Brunn, who was trying to come up with a seasoning for crab.
Where It’s Used
Now, it’s used for lobster rolls, chicken, crab cakes, corn on the cob, deviled eggs—and there’s even a beer seasoned with Old Bay. If you’re looking to make it at home, Old Bay is made by combining celery salt, paprika, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, mustard powder, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground allspice, ground cloves, and ground ginger.
