Mustard The powdered form has a good shelf life and can be made up as and when you require it. "I admit this is a personal thing, but I do like the ferocious kick of English mustard that makes its presence felt even when only very little is used." There are two major types of the mustard seed: white (or yellow) and Brown (Asian). A third species, the black mustard seed, has been replaced for most purposes by the brown species because the latter can be grown and harvested more economically.