Old Bay: the seasoning created by a Buchenwald refugee in 1939 — and Maryland's culinary icon!

November 1938, Kristallnacht, Berlin. Gustav Brunn, a German-Jewish spice merchant, is arrested and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. His family pays 10,000 marks to secure his release. With nothing but his clothes and his industrial spice grinder that he insists on taking, Gustav flees to the USA and settles in Baltimore. In 1939, he opens the Baltimore Spice Company right next to the fish market — and invents Old Bay. A blend of 18 spices that would become an entire region's seasoning. My American Market imports it straight for you!

Did you know Gustav first worked at McCormick — and was fired two days later?

On arriving in Baltimore, Gustav Brunn found a job at McCormick & Company, the city's spice maker. Two days later, he was let go — his son Ralph claims this was because he was Jewish. This experience pushed Gustav to create his own company. The Baltimore Spice Company became McCormick's local rival for decades, until McCormick finally acquired the rights to Old Bay in 1990. History has a certain tasty irony.

The Old Bay name comes from the "Old Bay Line" — a steamship line that ran between Baltimore and Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 20th century. The iconic yellow-red-blue tin has barely changed since 1939. In Maryland, it's a cultural symbol — people put it on crabs, shrimp, oysters, chips, popcorn, cocktails... A Goucher University poll found Old Bay to be one of Maryland's most recognisable symbols.

Old Bay Seasoned Coating Mix at MYAM

The Old Bay Seasoned Coating Mix — the signature coating mix! A blend of flour and Old Bay spices specially formulated for coating and frying meat, poultry and seafood. Golden, crispy crust with all 18 Old Bay spices built in. The result: American fried chicken with that unique Maryland profile — celery, salt, paprika, red pepper, bay leaf, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves... A blend no European spice can replicate.

Where to buy Old Bay in Europe?

Old Bay is impossible to find in European supermarkets. My American Market, your American grocery store online, imports it straight from Maryland. Express delivery across Europe!

Into American seasonings? Also check out McCormick, Badia Spices and Louisiana Fish Fry in our shop!

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