The History of Ketchup

Ketchup. Put it on anything greasy, starchy, or salty, and it becomes even better. These days, ketchup comes in a wide variety of styles, serving mediums, and even ingredients. While enjoying a hot-dog one day, I pondered where ketchup came from. As it turns out, it's older than I thought it was, and not from where I thought it would come from.

Way back in the 17th century, the Chinese mixed a concoction of pickled fish and spices and called it ke-chiap. Yummy. Now, I know what you're thinking: This sounds nothing like ketchup! Yeah, I know. Surprising.

By the early 18th century, the popular table sauce had made it to the Malay states, where it was tasted by the ever-so culinary-challeneged English colonists. The Indonesian-Malay word for the sauce was kecap. That word evolved into the English word "ketchup". English settlers then took ketchup with them to the American colonies, where it evolved into a tomato paste.

The term Ketchup was used in 1690 in the Dictionary of the Canting Crew which was well acclaimed in North America. The spelling "catchup" may have also been used in the past, and the term "catsup" is still used today in some southern states. 

In fast food joints, ketchup is often dispensed in small packets.  In 2011, Heinz began offering a new measured-portion package, called the "Dip and Squeeze" packet, which allowed the consumer to either tear the top off the package and squeeze the contents out, as with the traditional packet, or, in the alternative, tear the front off the package and use the package as a dip cup of the type often supplied with certain entrées.

Previously, fast food outlets dispensed ketchup from pumps into paper cups. This method has made a resurgence in the first decade of the 21st century with cost and environmental concerns over the increasing use of individual packets. Take it from someone who worked at a fast food joint for two years: There is NEVER enough ketchup packets.

In October 2000, Heinz introduced colored ketchup products called EZ Squirt, which eventually included green, blue, and even purple. These products were made by adding food coloring to the traditional ketchup. As of January 2006 these products were discontinued.

I'm pretty sure that was for the best.

Looks like it's all ogre now.

 Oddly enough, there exist green tomatoes, so I suppose green ketchup isn't too out of the ordinary.