Most ketchup is watered-down and overly sweet from corn syrup. Not so with Mutti's product, which has a full tomato taste because it's made from concentrated tomato paste instead of puree. The ketchup also has a wonderful balance of flavors: robust and savory with a touch of spice. We like that Mutti makes this condiment with wine vinegar, which adds dimension and offsets tomatoes' ripe sweetness.

In France's Dijon arrondissement, where—you guessed it—Dijon mustard originated, Reine de Dijon has been making its creamy, aromatic mustards the traditional way since 1840. The company's high-quality Whole Grain Mustard has a wonderful consistency and just enough texture from the plump mustard seeds. We love how the mustard spice is balanced by tangy and sweet notes, with no one flavor overwhelming another.

We were so surprised by the refreshing crunch of these pickled beans, as many can typically grow soggy. Sourced from local Oregon farmers, they’re snappy and zingy and maintain their shape while in the jar. The pickle brine is laden with spices, garlic and infused with the producer’s signature spicy Hungarian Goathorn peppers. And while the pleasant heat balances the tang, it’s mild enough that these beans can be used for anything that calls for pickled veggies.

Like flaky salt or a squeeze of lemon, pickled red onions are one of those essential hip-pocket ingredients that will make a dish pop. They’ve got the right combination of piquancy and sweetness to elevate and sharpen flavors and an addictive crunch to keep a dish engaging start to finish. But after being dissatisfied with the versions we found on the market, we decided to make our own. Milk Street’s Pickled Red Onions are the perfect balance of tart, sweet, spicy, with rich onion flavor. The addition of coriander, allspice and árbol chili adds a great depth to the mixture, while the fresh crunch adds bright texture—other versions we tried were mostly mush. Use as an all-purpose accent for almost any dish, from tacos to curries to salads.

Milk Street’s Tuscan Fennel and Herb takes its cues from the bold blends Tuscan cooks slather on pork for the classic dish, porcetta. Sweet fennel seed is paired with mixed herbs, pungent garlic, sharp chili and bright citrus. Oaxacan Chili Spice showcases fruity guajillo and morita (chipotle) chilis, warming spices, garlic and a touch of earthy raw sugar to temper the heat. It’s complex and smoky-sweet, just shy of spicy. Argentine Chimichurri Rojos elevates smoky, sweet and spicy paprika with garlic, oregano and tangy red wine vinegar. Smoky Catalan Spice combines Spain’s finest sweet and smoked paprikas with herbs and a touch of raw sugar for an all-purpose blend. And Punjabi Tandoori Curry is a heady blend of warm and earthy spices, plus turmeric, garlic and bright Kashmiri chili. It’s inspired by the spice rub slathered atop meats and more for blazing-hot tandoor roasting.

In France's Dijon arrondissement, where—you guessed it—Dijon mustard originated, Reine de Dijon has been making its creamy, aromatic mustards the traditional way since 1840. The company's classic Dijon Mustard is so silky and light on the palate that it almost reminds us of whipped cream, and its flavor is cleaner and earthier than basic yellow mustard because it's made with fresh mustard seeds. A touch of vinegar perfectly balances the pungency with a tangy accent for a balanced, robust version of this classic.

With their sweet, sour and spicy flavor combination, these tasty bread & butter pickles definitely stand out from the rest. Whether used on a sandwich in a salad, or eaten straight out of the jar, we found that they have a great sweet and sour balance and a good hit of heat. The pickled onions and red pepper slices in the brine are an added bonus, as they not only give a nod of flavor, they are also delicious on their own. Mama Lil’s sources the ingredients from local farms, including Willamette Valley cucumbers, spicy red “peppas” and Walla Walla sweet onions pickled in a sweet apple cider vinegar brine. Packed in a glass jar with a colorful folk art label, these pickles make a great gift to bring to a picnic or barbecue.