Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay Seasoning is a spice blend originally created in Baltimore, Maryland, and now marketed in the United States by McCormick & Company.

Old Bay Seasoning is a commercial spice blend originally created in Baltimore, Maryland, and now marketed in the United States by McCormick & Company. It is best known as a seafood seasoning, especially for crab, shrimp, and other Mid-Atlantic dishes. The blend’s full recipe is proprietary, but it is publicly described as containing celery salt, red pepper, black pepper, paprika, and other spices.

History

Old Bay was created in Baltimore by Gustav Brunn in the late 1930s. Sources describe Brunn as a German Jewish immigrant who fled Nazi Germany and later developed the seasoning in Maryland.

Ingredients and flavour

Old Bay is a blend of herbs and spices, commonly described as savory, slightly spicy, and salt-forward. Public product descriptions identify celery salt, paprika, and spices including red pepper and black pepper, while the full recipe remains secret.

Use in cuisine

Old Bay is most closely associated with seafood, especially blue crabs and shrimp in the Chesapeake Bay region. It is also used on a wide range of foods beyond seafood in American cooking.

Cultural significance

Old Bay has become a regional food icon, particularly in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. Its yellow tin and blue-and-red branding are widely recognized in American food culture.