Celebrate a most flavorful milestone! 70 years ago, Baltimoreans first sampled OLD BAY’s zesty flavor and from that moment on, seafood wasn’t really seafood without it.

Since then, crab and shrimp aficionados have sworn by this deliciously unique blend of twelve spices and herbs, and now the whole world is sharing in the flavor that once belonged solely to the Chesapeake Bay area.

Once Upon a Crab

OLD BAY’s story begins with the beloved blue crab. German immigrant Gustav Brunn settled in Baltimore, among the crab lovers of Maryland. In 1939, he started a spice business and rented a space on Baltimore’s Market Place, opposite the Wholesale Fish Market. With only a small spice grinder and mixer, he began creating the secret recipe that would become OLD BAY Seasoning.

So how did this unique, bold blend get its name? Believe it or not, its original name was “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning.” That name didn’t stick, but the taste sure did. A more memorable name was inspired by a steamship line that traveled the Chesapeake between Maryland and Virginia, and OLD BAY Seasoning was well on its way to becoming a legend.

A Flavor Icon

To this day, OLD BAY Seasoning is still produced to its original exacting standards in Maryland (we’re old school like that). Its yellow and blue tin has become an icon, and its distinct flavor is the ultimate seafood companion. In addition to seafood, it’s delicious on everything from chicken, pizza and pasta to corn-on-the-cob, salads and more. True fans of OLD BAY reach for it instead of salt and pepper. It’s as familiar as the comfort foods and family recipes we sprinkle it on. When you see the yellow can, you know you’re in good company, among good friends and very, very good food.

A Taste Worth Sharing

OLD BAY’s cult following has expanded far beyond its birthplace. OLD BAY ambassadors have carried their enthusiasm for this zesty seasoning from the mid-Atlantic across the country, making fans of its bold flavor along the way. Now available in grocery stores and seafood markets nationwide, OLD BAY is also frequently shipped overseas to family and friends who crave its taste. About 50 million ounces of OLD BAY were sold last year, a true testament to its success. Now, that’s a lot of zesty ground covered.