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People probably think I carry a toddler-sized purse for fashion purposes—but those who know me well know I've actually got a serious arsenal of mini condiment bottles, packets, and jars slung over my shoulder at any given time. Why? Because sometimes mediocre salads and lame take-out desk lunches happen—this is a fact of life—and I won't let my circumstances keep me from a tasty meal.
Maybe you think this is approaching doomsday prep–level extreme, but, at the very least, you can acknowledge how freakin' fun it is to have a purse full of tiny artisanal bitters and hot sauce for ants. Don't pretend you're above it—tiny fruits and mini cookies are the universal awww-inducers we need in this world. So get on board—teeny tins of flaked sea salt can take a spoonful of almond butter from pedestrian to bougie, and a thumb-sized jar of preserves makes plain yogurt feel a little less like a punishment. Here are the miniature condiments you should keep on hand—for functionality and cuteness.
Malton Salt Tin
I've been known to stash flaky sea salt in an old makeup compact I cleaned out. Yes, it's a little dramatic; yes, my friends made fun of me; and yes, I'm cripplingly addicted to sodium. A sprinkling of Maldon is the best way you could possibly finish a dish—it's crunchy, delicate, and, obviously, salty—and it has the power to transform a plate of crackers and nut butter into a fancy-ass snack. I keep a tin of this on me at all times, in case I have the misfortune of an under-salted meal.
Maldon Salt Pinch Tin, $4.84 on Amazon
Soy Sauce Fish Packets
Maybe you've seen these little soy sauce–filled fish in an order of delivery sushi—hopefully you saved them. If not, you can get these cuties online and keep 'em around for those times when your leftovers need a quick hit of umami.
Soy Sauce, Fish-Shaped, Pack of 6, $0.99 on Amazon
Sriracha Keychain
Okay, you probably don't want to clip these tiny Sriracha hot sauce bottles to your key ring, because that's sort of weird, but you probably do want to keep them around for topping grain bowls, popcorn, noodles, and breakfast sandwiches.
Sriracha Keychain Bottle, Pack of 3, $15 on Amazon
Bonne Maman Preserves
These little jars are just one ounce each—mind-bogglingly cute, no? They're perfect to keep at your desk for those days when a paltry piece of toast stands in for breakfast. You could also use it to sweeten up plain yogurt or cottage cheese—and I'd be lying if I said I've never put apricot jam on a grilled cheese sandwich. Highly recommend.
Bonne Maman Mini Apricot Preserves, Pack of 15, $13.40 on Amazon
Hella Bitters
These little bottles of bitters are definitely plane-friendly at 1.7 ounces each—order yourself a whiskey with ginger ale on your next flight, whip one of these bad boys out, and have yourself a craft cocktail. Also, having smoked chili bitters with you at any given time is the sign of someone who's reached peak coolness. ****
Hella Bitter Five Flavor Bar Bitters, Set of 5, $34.46 on Amazon
Tony Chachere Creole Seasoning
A packet of this salty, garlicky Creole seasoning can amp up the flavors of just about anything—think avocados, tomato toast, scrambled (or frambled) eggs, potato chips, and french fries. You can get these in a pack of 1,000, so don't worry about running out any time soon.
Tony Chachere Creole Seasoning, Pack of 1,000, $20.89 on Amazon
Mustard and Co. Mini Mustards
I firmly believe that most meals—at least 90% of meals in the world—are better with mustard. This set of 2.2-ounce flavored mustards will up your sandwich game exponentially—just a swipe of desk-side garlic dill mustard is all you need to turn a sad turkey wrap into something special.
Mustard and Co. Mini Mustard, Set of 5, $25 on Amazon
Hak's Single-Serve Dressing
A simple salad dressing is a good thing to keep on hand, especially if your lunchtime salad place serially underdresses their greens, or if you like to bring a plain salad to work and add dressing when you're ready to dig in.
Hak's Single-Serve Dressing, Pack of 6, $7.99 on Amazon
Native Honey Sticks
Some people like to cut open these little honey-filled plastic sticks and drink the honey from them as a snack, but they also work well drizzled onto yogurt with fruit, and, surprisingly, on savory meals like pizza with cured meat.
Native Honey Sticks, Pack of 100, $17.93 on Amazon
So you're stocked up on mini condiment bottles, but if you want to turn your desk drawer into a full-fledged pantry, check out this list of essentials:
