# Popularity of salt & pepper

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843 "2014-06-28T04:11:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843/1 "2014-06-28T04:11:38Z")

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Are there any countries who do not **commonly** have salt & pepper on the table for seasoning food while eating? Or are there any who have one & not the other?

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**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843/2 "2014-06-28T05:26:27Z")

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In many Southeast Asian countries, your salt is soy sauce and your pepper is chili. Other condiments which feature salty and firey flavours may further substitute.

Never saw S&P on tables in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843/3 "2014-06-28T15:08:52Z")

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I once asked for salt & pepper in a small family restaurant in Germany.

The chef came out of the kitchen to ask me what was wrong with his cooking.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-of-salt-pepper/691843/4 "2014-06-28T15:19:06Z")

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From the Master: [How did salt and pepper become the standard table spices?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/393/how-did-salt-and-pepper-become-the-standard-table-spices)

Not precisely addressing the OP, but lots of info on the topic.