Löwensenf: The Fiery Story of Düsseldorf Mustard

A spoonful of Löwensenf can change an entire plate. The Extra Hot mustard is clean, direct and famously fiery—the kind of condiment that wakes up a bratwurst, sandwich or roast without hiding what is underneath.

Its lion emblem belongs to Düsseldorf today, but the brand’s journey began somewhere else entirely.

The story starts in Metz in 1903

Otto and Frieda Frenzel founded the First Lorraine Vinegar and Mustard Factory in Metz in 1903. Their guiding idea was straightforward: use excellent ingredients, prepare them carefully and avoid unnecessary additives.

After World War I, German citizens were required to leave Metz. The Frenzels moved their operation to Düsseldorf, already famous as a center of German mustard making.

A new mustard for Düsseldorf

In 1919, the family refined a distinctive recipe using brown mustard seed. The following year brought Löwensenf Extra, described by the company as the first German mustard produced using the traditional Dijon method.

The lion—adapted from Düsseldorf’s coat of arms—was registered as the trademark in 1920. It communicated exactly what the mustard delivered: strength and character.

Innovation inside the familiar glass

Mustard’s sharp aroma is delicate. In 1925, Löwensenf became the first German company to package mustard in glass under vacuum, helping protect its flavor and heat without preservatives.

That glass vessel became nearly as recognizable as the lion. The company later expanded beyond Extra Hot, introducing medium, organic mild and sweet Bavarian styles for different dishes and heat preferences.

Which Löwensenf should you serve?

Choose Extra Hot when you want a sharp kick with bratwurst, steak, roast pork or a substantial sandwich. Medium mustard is an easy all-purpose choice for dressings and everyday meals. Bavarian Sweet belongs beside Weisswurst, pretzels, Leberkäse and snack boards.

Shop Löwensenf at European Deli and choose the level of heat that suits your table.

More than a century of mustard with character

Löwensenf’s story joins Lorraine know-how with Düsseldorf tradition. The brand moved, adapted and expanded, yet its most famous mustard still relies on a focused recipe and a flavor that refuses to be timid.

Follow the complete timeline on Löwensenf’s official history page.