Duke's History - A True Southern Original
The South has its share of true originals. By that, we mean quirky, eccentric characters who add color to their local communities. We have people who are crazy for college football, people who are crazy for NASCAR racing, and people who are crazy for whole-hog barbecue. And then there are those people who are crazy for Duke’s — Duke’s Mayonnaise, that is. Most of the time, fans of Duke’s Mayonnaise live quietly among us. The only way to identify them is to sneak a peek inside their refrigerators. But ask them if they’d like a tomato sandwich, and they’re likely to show their true colors — the yellow and black of the Duke’s Mayonnaise label. For thousands of people around the South, there is no other mayonnaise but Duke’s. “I love Duke’s Mayonnaise,” says food writer, cookbook author, and culinary television producer Virginia Willis of Atlanta, Georgia. “That’s the best part of a BLT,” she adds, “the creamy, yummy mayonnaise.” She uses Duke’s Mayonnaise when she tests recipes for her culinary clients because it gives her consistent results. Duke’s, she points out, is a little more acidic, a little more zesty than other brands. “And that little bit of acid really makes flavors pop.” “For me, it’s got to be homemade or Duke’s,” she says.
A Uniquely Southern Recipe
Almost a century after Eugenia Duke created her unique mayonnaise recipe, Duke’s is still made in Greenville, South Carolina. Mrs. Duke’s kitchen has been replaced by a modern production facility that turns out 240 jars of mayonnaise a minute, but the recipe for Duke’s Mayonnaise has remained the same. “We’ve never changed the formula,” explains Mark Sauer, vice president of sales for C. F. Sauer and great-grandson of Conrad Sauer, Sr., “not since Duke’s time.” Duke’s, he says, is a uniquely Southern product. “It was developed at a time when the South was still a distinctive place with a distinctive taste. And that hasn’t changed.” The formula for Duke’s includes more egg yolks than other brands of mayonnaise, he points out. It also has no added sugar. (It’s the only major brand of mayonnaise that can make that claim.) That combination gives the mayonnaise a tanginess Duke’s fans have come to love.
Traditionally, Duke’s market area has included northern Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. In recent years, the company has expanded into Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee, as well. And now fans of Duke’s Mayonnaise have an alternative way to purchase their favorite spread. The mayonnaise is now available online at Duke’s Company Store. Soon, everyone will be crazy for this true Southern original.