Norwich is a city in Norfolk in the East Anglia region of England that has had an association with mustard over many years. Mustard is a condiment with a pungent flavor that is used to improve the taste of meat, and is made from mustard seeds. These have been imported to Norwich for many years. The taste of mustard can cause your eyes to water and sting your mouth, so it must be handled with care and eaten in small doses. The city of Norwich has become known across the world as a centre for the production of mustard, and a great many people from the city are involved in the mustard industry, as were their predecessors over the years.

Colman's was established in the year 1814 near Norwich by Jeremiah Colman at a water mill. The company made mustard along with other sauces, and Colman's went on to become one of the longest established food brands in the world. Following the success of the company, Colman's became active in social welfare in Norwich. In 1857 the company established a school for the children of the Colman's employees. The company also had a dedicated nurse whose role was to provide medical care to members of Colman's staff who were unwell. Such corporate initiatives for the benefit and welfare of the team are commonly seen today in large companies, but were rare at the time.

In the year 1865 the company moved to larger premises purchased from the Norfolk Railway Company at Carrow, also near Norwich. This enabled the company to expand its operations and create a higher volume of quality products. In the following year, 1866, the company received a Royal Warrant to manufacture mustard for Queen Victoria. The royal household still uses the company's mustard to this day. In the year 1903 Colman's of Norwich acquired Keen's Mustard which is a brand that was established in 1742. Colman's marketed Keen's Mustard in Australia and Canada where it was well liked and had many enthusiastic fans. The parent company of Colman's exports the company's mustard worldwide, which makes Norwich internationally recognized as the home of mustard.

There are other places in the world that are known for mustard making, such as Dijon in France, where a milder variety of mustard is made, and Dusseldorf in Germany where a hot mustard is made, but the Norwich version is hotter than the mustard made in Dusseldorf. The majority of the mustard made in Norwich is yellow in colour, but you can get mustard that is not yellow. It can be brown or black if it is made from the rarer mustard seeds of those colours. Mustard is often added to meats and cheeses in sandwiches. It is also often added to roast beef dinners. It is also commonly added to hot dogs and hamburgers. There is a retailer called Mustard Shop in the centre of Norwich that is a kind of shrine to mustard and sells a range of Colman's products and related gifts.