Condiments — a little hot here, a little sweet there

I consume very few condiments, and thus I have almost no personal preferences, but my husband is a different case altogether. He has very distinct preferences for brands of everything from peanut butters to mustards, which creates a bit of a dilemma when we both contribute to a grocery list but just one of us goes shopping.

Because I don’t eat the same as he does, I can never remember his preferred brands. I often need to call home from the grocery store to find out if it’s French’s or Heinz mustard he wants or if it’s Skippy or Jif we need to get for his peanut butter cravings. Some of this can be attributed to his taste buds, which are more finely tuned than mine are.

He tastes so well that he can tell if even the tiniest bit of anchovy oil, for instance, is an ingredient in a dish. He hates anchovy with a passion and has sent restaurant dishes back to the kitchen when he detects in a dish. He thinks its use should be a required in a “full disclosure” note of ingredients on a menu.

So I had plenty of food for thought when I received a press release detailing favorite condiments by state, devised by Influenster.com, a product and reviews community with more than 30 million reviews. The release included a map, which accompanies this column.

Some of its findings were obvious — at least to me — while others were a mystery. It’s not hard to understand, for instance, why the lush tropical flavors of Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil were a hit in both Alaska and Hawaii, but why also in Minnesota, Oregon and Colorado? A Google search revealed that coconut oil is not only useful in cooking, but for complexions, hair and to boost immunity in pets.

Perhaps because barbecue flavors are a favorite in the South, that why Frank’s RedHot Original reigned supreme in Arizona, Maryland, North Carolina and Texas and Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce was the crowd pleaser in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. Why then did Sriracha Chili Sauce from Huy Fong Foods come in on top for Washington, California and Nebraska?

Sweet:tooth states of Connecticut, Massachusetats, New York and Virginia chose Nutella Hazelnut Spread as a favorite condiment above all others, while Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing swept the map across Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

I find it easy to make dressings from scratch, so except for Hellman’s Real Mayonnaise in my potato salad, I’ve never tasted it or many of the other condiments included.

Here’s a look at some other findings:

There’s no conclusive explanation for any of these state:by:state findings, but a browse through comments on Influenster.com will reveal the reasons for contributor reviews.

Alabama: Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Barbecue Sauce

Alaska: Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Arizona: Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Arkansas: Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing

California: Huy Fong Foods Inc. Sriracha Chili Sauce

Colorado: Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Connecticut: Nutella Hazelnut Spread

Delaware: French’s Classic Yellow Mustard

Florida: French’s Crunchy Toppers Crispy Jalapeños

Georgia: Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Barbecue Sauce

Hawaii: Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Idaho: Hidden Valley Dips Mix Original Ranch

Illinois: Country Crock Original

Indiana: Bertolli Alfredo With Aged Parmesan Cheese Sauce

Iowa: Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing Buttermilk

Kansas: Country Crock Original

Kentucky: French’s Crunchy Toppers Crispy Jalapeños

Louisiana: Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Barbecue Sauce

Maine: Marshmallow Fluff Original

Maryland: Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Massachusetts: Nutella Hazelnut Spread

Michigan: Bertolli Alfredo With Aged Parmesan Cheese Sauce

Minnesota: Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Mississippi: French’s Crunchy Toppers Crispy Jalapeños

Missouri: French’s Classic Yellow Mustard

Montana: Skippy SUPER CHUNK Peanut Butter

Nebraska: Huy Fong Foods Inc. Sriracha Chili Sauce

Nevada: Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise

New Hampshire: Wish:Bone Balsamic Italian Vinaigrette

New Jersey: Bertolli Vodka Sauce

New Mexico: McCormick Garlic Salt

New York: Nutella Hazelnut Spread

North Carolina: Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

North Dakota: Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing And Sandwich Spread

Ohio: Country Crock Calcium Plus Vitamin D

Oklahoma: Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing Buttermilk

Oregon: Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Pennsylvania: Heinz Ketchup

Rhode Island: Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

South Carolina: French’s Crunchy Toppers Crispy Jalapeños

South Dakota: Jif Peanut Butter

Tennessee: French’s Classic Yellow Mustard

Texas: Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Utah: Hidden Valley Cucumber Ranch Dressing

Vermont: Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter

Virginia: Nutella Hazelnut Spread

Washington: Huy Fong Foods Inc. Sriracha Chili Sauce

West Virginia: Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing Buttermilk

Wisconsin: Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise

Wyoming: Skippy SUPER CHUNK Peanut Butter

As for my husband’s preference for Skippy over Jif peanut butter, he says Skippy is smoother and keeps its fresh taste longer.

Who knew?

COURTESY OF INFLUENSTER.COM