Interesting Journey Of Ketchup: From Medicine To Table Condiment

History of Ketchup

Know about the culinary journey of ketchup- from medicine to table condiment

When you hear the word ketchup, a rich red puree of tomatoes pops into your mind. Tomatoes equal to ketchup. Although, a few decades ago ketchup didn’t quite resemble the current version of the condiment.

Let us know some history of the same!

Many of us think that Ketchup originated in the U.S. as many Americans use it. But, that’s not the truth!

It came from China. Surprised?

In the 17th century, The Hokkien Chinese made a variety of ketchup, originally known as ‘ke-tsiap‘ which didn’t have any tomatoes. Fermented salted anchovies were used to make a caramel colored pungent liquid known as ke-tsiap. Ke-tsiap is sold as fish sauce or ‘nam-pla’ as known in Thai in the supermarkets. The Vietnamese fisherman introduced the fish sauce to the Fujianese Chinese community.

Via – ripleys.com

These Fujianese people took the ke-tsiap to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

In the 18th century, the British merchant traveled to South-East Asia for spices, textiles, etc. They also developed a taste for the ke-tsiap and tried to reproduce it back home to make a fermented dark sauce.

In the 19th century, the British introduced tomatoes in the ketchup.

In the early 1800’s, tomatoes were deemed poisonous. However, in 1834, tomatoes were declared helpful to treat diarrhea, dyspepsia, and other digestive ailments. Later, Dr. John Cook Bennett published recipes for tomato ketchup as a medical aid.

Via – rsc.byu.edu

Three years later, Archibald Miles, sold a patented medicine called ‘American Hygiene Pill‘. After much work, he changed the product name to ‘Dr. Miles Compound extract of tomato‘.

The pill is believed to have tomato extract. Since Miles was not an authorized doctor, his medicine was dismissed.

In 1876, Henry J Heinz took over the ketchup recipe and mass-produced tomato ketchup under the brand name ‘Heinz ketchup’.

However, in order to preserve the tomatoes for around a year without the use of harmful chemicals like benzoate, they drastically increased the amount of vinegar and sugar. This amalgamation of sweet and sour notes catered to the sweet tooth of Americans and became a hit.

Today, we know the tomatoes are rich in lycopene and antioxidants that have anticancer properties. Nonetheless, high fructose corn syrup added to the commercial ketchup nullifies its benefits.

Via – thesun.co.uk

Did you like the interesting history of ketchup? Then don’t forget to mention your views in comments below.

image source
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Random Post

Know More About The Cursed River – “Karmanasa River”

India is a place where all rivers are worshipped. From the Ganges to any small river, we have some sort of mythological story related...

6 things you must know before getting a hair transplant

Hair loss is a plaguing issue among both men and women. Interestingly, the problem is more ‘psychological’ than ‘physical’ for most people. It has...

How Long Do Racehorses Live?

For many horse racing fans, the only time that we are likely to watch the equine stars in action throughout their career is when...

Latest article

Achieving Personal Perfection through CoolSculpting in Denver

In the heart of the picturesque city of Denver, where the Rocky Mountains meet urban sophistication, a new artistry is emerging—sculpting bodies to perfection....

Cooking Green: Master the Zero-Waste Kitchen on a Student Budget

It’s easy to associate a student kitchen with takeout boxes, discarded pizza crusts, and leftovers going to waste. But what if you could transform...

Duck Jerky: Savoring Guilt-Free Indulgence

In the world of jerky, beef and turkey often take center stage, but a flavorful contender is gaining recognition among those who crave something...

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.