History of Original Old Bay Seasoning

The ORIGINAL OLD BAY came from the Baltimore Spice Company 21208 in Maryland. For YEARS McCormack kept pestering Baltimore Spice Company to give it up for a profitable sum of money. Baltimore Spice Company REFUSED to sell the recipe for some time. About twenty years or so as I recall it. Somewhere between my 20s and now in my 50's, I'd guess around 30, Baltimore Spice caved. I imagine McCormack company offered them quite a healthy sum to let it go.

The FIRST thing that Marylander's noticed was the McCormacks blend dubbed Old Bay, was NOT the same recipe. Thousands of Maryland resident's ran to the stores to buy up all the left over cans of Old Bay on the shelves that still had the "Baltimore Spice Company" address on the can. Including me. I still have my original can.

What most people believe is McCormack wanted to tout their OWN blend of crab and seafood seasoning and only use the NAME of "OLD BAY" on their label as MOST MARYLANDER'S that had ate the spice for years, including me, said it was NOT the same and completely different which lead to the assumption that McCormack wanted to buy out their competition and dissolve the company so there was no longer any Old Bay to compete with their less enjoyable spice.

The ORIGINAL "Old Bay" spice that maryland residents used to steam their highly coveted Maryland Blue Crabs, had a much hotter afterburn when eating the spice from the jar and off the crabs. McCormack's version of Old Bay was less hot, and did not have the same exact blend of spices in proportion to equal the original. There is NOTHING more I'd like to do than get a hold of the original owners and get that recipe ingredient potion in the right proportions and start my own seafood spice company. Maryland residents would go nuts over it and leave McCormack in the dust.

When Maryland residents stated they did not like the McCormacks blend of "Old Bay" spice, a new company in Maryland arose as the next spice to steam crabs with and that was JO Spice company that made a better tasting crab seasoning that was similar in flavor to the original Baltimore Spice version of "Old Bay" minus the hotter burn spice that was obviously in the original Old Bay. Furthermore, another company tried to produce a new spice for crabs called WYE RIVER but did not match the original Old Bay nor did it compete and fell to the way side compared to Jo Spice which is used more by Maryland residents who seek the original flavor of Old Bay when it was owned by Baltimore Spice Co.

NOW, here is the kicker. McCormack MYSTERIOUSLY came out with ANOTHER Crab/Shrimp seasoning spice after their OWN blend of "Old Bay" was introduced. Hmm, imagine that! WHY would they put out TWO crab seasonings? It was called McCormack's "Chesapeake Bay" seasoning, It was NO WHERE NEAR touted as much as the McCormack own new blend of what they called Old Bay using the Old Bay name only. That newer spice label said "McCormacks Chesapeake Bay Seasoning." Most Maryland residents with GREAT TASTE BUDS that remember the ORIGINAL OLD BAY recipe from Baltimore Spice would tell you that the McCormack's Chesapeake Bay Seasoning blend that they did NOT tout WAS IN FACT the ORIGINAL OLD BLEND recipe of OLD BAY that the Baltimore Spice company made as it has that same exact flavor AND it had that after burn on your tongue that so many Marylanders remember. You'd have to be an older resident in your late 40's or greater to remember the original OLD BAY but I can tell you, after trying McCormack's OTHER crab seasoning "Chesapeake Bay seasoning" I can say for certain it was the ORIGINAL OLD BAY seasoning but McCormack eventually ended it's run and took it off the shelf! IF you can get a bottle of this seasoning left out there, you can experience the original OLD BAY seasoning.

Current Old Bay Product Line:  http://www.oldbay.com/Products.aspx

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With spice grinder in hand, Gustav Brunn traveled to America from Germany, and settled down in Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay. There on the bay steamed crabs are a staple. So Gustav started grinding. In 1939 Gustav found just the right mix for his top secret blend of spices that for generations would be the most used seasoning on steamed crabs, shrimp, lobster and other tasty seafood dishes. But the celery salt-based blend is not just for seafood, according to McCormick & Co., which purchased Old Bay in 1990. You can also use the blend on chicken, french fries, popcorn, baked potatoes, deviled eggs, hamburgers, and even pizza. If you've got a recipe that requires Old Bay, but don't have any in the cupboard, head to the spice cabinet and throw these ingredients together to make the perfect clone.

Old Bay Copycat Mixes

Ingredients

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• 1 Tbsp. ground bay leaves (fine powder)
• 2 Tbsp. celery salt
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 1-1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. ground mace
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

How to make it

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• Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container and store in a cool place. Use with seafood, chicken or french fries. Makes about 1/4 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon ground dried bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons celery salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground celery seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container and store in a cool place. 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon bay leaf powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoons celery salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon mace
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container and store in a cool place. Use with seafood or chicken.

6 bay leaves (ground fine)
2 tsp. celery salt
1 ½ tsp ground mustard
1 ½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp red pepper
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp sweet paprika
¼ tsp ground mace
¼ tsp ground cardamom

Grind bay leaves fine. Add other spices. Store in a container with a tight fitting lid.

When I prepare this blend, I also add one tsp. of salt and one tsp. of ground parsley. I always like to add something to make recipes my own. You'll find many of these Old Bay type recipes around. At one time this basic blend was very popular, and a number of manufacturers were making it. The main difference seems to be the proportion of celery salt and red pepper to the rest of the mixture. Mine is heavy on red pepper and light on celery salt. Another thing I like to do is use chipotle pepper for the red pepper ingredient. It's sweet and has a nice smoky bite.

Posted via email from Grillin and Smokin