It is almost tomato sandwich season in the South. Southerners know a few things about food, especially when it comes to our preferred mayonnaise. Duke’s Mayonnaise is a staple here, like sweet tea and fried food. While most of us use this tasty condiment, many may not know its background or why it is part of South Carolina’s History.
Duke’s Mayonnaise was born in Greenville, South Carolina, by Eugenia Duke in 1917. She quickly became an entrepreneur, making the sandwiches and the special mayo in her home to sell to army canteens during World War I. The sandwiches left such an impression and taste that those soldiers wrote to her begging for the recipe and jars of the product. She began to officially bottle it as a product in 1923, 101 years ago.
Today, if you enjoy Duke’s Mayonnaise on a burger or even a tomato sandwich during the summer, we owe Mrs. Duke much gratitude for her service to the troops who fought for this country and the famous product.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.