KETCHUP is a beloved condiment in many cultures and cuisines, commonly served with fries and burgers, and as a key ingredient in dishes like sweet and sour chicken. Its unique blend of sweet, tangy and savoury flavours make it a versatile sauce that can enhance the taste of a variety of foods. Apparently, before ketchup became a popular condiment in the late 19th century, it was marketed as a cure for indigestion and other ailments.
Is it true that ketchup was once considered to be a medicine?
Verdict:
TRUE
Yes, as weird as it sounds, ketchup was sold as a remedy for indigestion, diarrhoea, jaundice and rheumatism in the 1830s.
Dr John Cook Bennett, an American physician, even sold ketchup in pill form for this purpose.
Although it was initially a successful business venture, it went down the drain when copycat pills hit the shelves, claiming to mend broken bones and cure scurvy – which of course was all a bit too much for people to swallow.
Decades later, in the 1870s, American entrepreneur Henry Heinz created a modern version of ketchup with ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, brown sugar, salt and a variety of spices.
By 1905, the company had sold five million bottles of ketchup, cementing its place as the condiment we know and love today.
References:
1. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/how-was-ketchup-invented
