Prompt Cast
The History and Evolution of Ketchup: From Fish Paste to Tomato-Based Condiment
TLDR Ketchup originated in Asia as a fermented fish paste and eventually evolved into the tomato-based condiment we know today. It has a rich history, including its introduction to the UK by the British, breakthroughs in production by Henry Hines and Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley, and its global popularity as a versatile sauce used in various cuisines.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode is a comprehensive overview of everything to do with ketchup.
05:22
Ketchup originated in Asia and evolved from a fermented fish paste, and the word "ketchup" is an anglicization of a Chinese word, but the modern version of ketchup that we know today is tomato-based.
10:31
Ketchup originated in Asia and was brought back to the UK by the Brits, who initially made their own versions using ingredients like mushrooms and walnuts, before eventually using tomatoes as the base, which became popular in America after the Civil War.
15:38
In 1871, Henry Hines and Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley worked together to create a preservative-free version of ketchup using ripe tomatoes as the base, which had a natural preservative called pectin, and ramping up the vinegar to prevent spoilage, marking a huge breakthrough in ketchup production.
20:54
Ketchup today is made up of tomatoes, salt, vinegar, onion powder, spices, and sweeteners like sugar or high fructose corn syrup, with Heinz being the leading brand in the US and globally, and while there are claims that ketchup may have health benefits, the amount of lycopene in ketchup is not enough to make a significant impact.
26:13
Ketchup was a non-Newtonian fluid, which is why it was difficult to get out of glass bottles, but tapping on the 57 on the bottle actually worked to change the viscosity and make it flow faster, and while ketchup packets and plastic squeeze bottles were attempts to solve this problem, they still had their own issues.
31:23
Heinz and Huntz released a new type of squeeze bottle that could be stood upside down to keep the ketchup at the bottom and catch the ketchup juice, but even with this improvement, ketchup still isn't perfect and you still get ketchup juice when you first squirt it.
36:10
Ketchup and catsup are pronounced the same, and Heinz used the spelling "ketchup" to distinguish themselves from their competitors, eventually making it the norm, while Del Monte continued to use "catsup" until 1988; as for refrigeration, Heinz says it's shelf stable but recommends refrigerating it after opening.
41:42
Ketchup is used in various ways around the world, such as on fried chicken in China and Jamaica, on pizza in Eastern Europe and Trinidad, and even squeezed over pasta in Sweden.
46:50
In Canada, ketchup potato chips are turned into a ketchup cake, and in Israel, Heinz ketchup is relabeled as tomato seasoning.
51:48
In Israel, Heinz ketchup does not meet the required percentage of tomato concentrate to be labeled as tomato ketchup, so it is relabeled as tomato seasoning in Hebrew.
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Society & Culture
