
Why is it called ketchup and not tomato sauce?
If you’ve ever looked at a ketchup bottle in Britain, you’ll see it’s described as tomato ketchup, not tomato sauce. The name ketchup appears to be borrowed from the Chinese word ke-siap, which is a type of sauce made from fish. Along the way, it was sometimes called catsup but now the usual word is ketchup.
What is ketchup?
“Ketchup is a savoury sauce used as both a meal condiment, and an ingredient. The best known type of ketchup is tomato ketchup; in fact, it is so well known that for most people, the word "ketchup" is synonymous with the term "tomato ketchup." It's not, and in fact, ketchup was originally made without tomatoes.
When were Tomatoes first used in ketchup?
It wasn't until 1812 that the first reference to tomatoes in ketchup surfaced. The first known recipe for tomato ketchup is thought to be written by James Mease, a horticulturalist and scientist - he even referred to tomatoes as "love apples" in his recipe that contained tomato pulp, spice and brandy.
What is tomato ketchup made of?
Tomato ketchup is a sweet and tangy condiment made from tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar, with seasonings and spices. The spices and flavors vary, but commonly include onions, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, and mustard, and sometimes include celery, cinnamon, or ginger.

Why is ketchup not called tomato sauce?
Ketchup is made with tomatoes, sugar, vinegar/acetic acid and spices. Whereas, tomato sauce is made from tomatoes, oil, meat or vegetable stock and spices. It never uses vinegar. Also, ketchup is cold in nature and is never served hot, while all varieties of sauces are served hot.
What do they call ketchup in England?
tomato sauceThe British also refer to their ketchup is as 'tomato sauce', which can often mean fresh passata in Italy.
Does ketchup have to be made with tomatoes?
The Short Answer: Yes, most ketchup is a tomato product, but ketchup can be made without tomatoes.
What is the mother of all sauces?
1. Béchamel. You may know béchamel sauce as the white sauce that gives chicken pot pie its creamy texture, or as the binder for all that cheese in macaroni and cheese. The sauce is also used to make scalloped potatoes, lasagne, and gravy.
What is ketchup called in Australia?
tomato sauceKetchup is underrated. We call it tomato sauce in Australia.
Why is Heinz ketchup so red?
Colour of ketchup That red colour comes from a molecule called lycopene which is part of tomatoes and is what makes them red.
Who invented ketchup and why?
Finally, in 1812, the first recipe for tomato-based ketchup debuted. James Mease, a Philadelphia scientist, is credited with developing the recipe. He wrote that the choicest ketchup came from “love apples,” as tomatoes were then called. (Some believed tomatoes had aphrodisiac powers.)
What is purple ketchup?
ByTodd Spangler. P I T T S B U R G H, July 31, 2001 -- Heinz is adding "Funky Purple" to its crayon box of condiment colors. The company, hoping to build on last year's success with "Blastin' Green" ketchup, said today the new purple ketchup will be on store shelves in September. In seven months, H.J. Heinz Co.
Is there ketchup in the UK?
In 2020, an estimated 14.97 million people used Heinz tomato ketchup. Ranked second and third were Tesco and Asda. In both years, Heinz was by far the most used Ketchup in the UK.
Do they eat ketchup in the UK?
Until now, for many decades, ketchup has been Britain's favourite condiment. The sauce is consumed so readily, presumably, because it triggers all five of the fundamental tastes of our palette – sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.
What is British red sauce?
Marinara sauce, in the United States. Ketchup, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
What do you call tomato sauce in UK?
Worth noting that in British English, it's quite common to refer to 'tomato ketchup' as 'tomato sauce' or just 'ketchup' since other varieties have fallen out of fashion. In some areas, people might call it 'Tommy K' or just 'Red Sauce'.
History
In the United Kingdom, preparations of ketchup were historically and originally prepared with mushrooms as a primary ingredient, rather than tomatoes. Ketchup recipes began to appear in British and then American cookbooks in the 18th century. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term ketchup first appeared in 1682.
Terminology
The term used for the sauce varies. Ketchup is the dominant term in American English and Canadian English, although catsup is commonly used in some southern US states and Mexico.
Etymology
The etymology of the word ketchup is unclear, with multiple competing theories:
Composition
Heinz tomato ketchup's ingredients (listed from highest to lowest percentage weight) are: tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, and natural flavoring.
Nutrition
The following table compares the nutritional value of ketchup with raw ripe tomatoes and salsa, based on information from the USDA Food Nutrient Database.
Viscosity
Commercial tomato ketchup has an additive, usually xanthan gum, which gives the condiment a pseudoplastic or "shear thinning" property - more commonly known as thixotropic. This increases the viscosity of the ketchup considerably with a relatively small amount added—usually 0.5%—which can make it difficult to pour from a container.
Separation
Ketchup is one of the many products that is leachable, meaning that the water within the product migrates together as the larger molecules within the product sediment, ultimately causing water to separate out. This forms a layer of water on top of the ketchup due to the molecular instability within the product.
