In the 1690s the Chinese mixed together a tasty concoction of pickled fish and spices and called it ke-tsiap.
By the early 1700s, the table sauce had made it to Malaysia, where it was discovered by British explorers, and by 1740, it had become an English staple.
Fifty years later, North Americans added tomatoes to the Chinese recipe, and ketchup as we now know it had arrived.
Tomatoes were considered poisonous for most of the eighteenth century because they’re a close relative to the toxic belladonna and nightshade plants.
Related Posts
-
Where does the word “ketchup” (catsup) come from and What does ketchup mean in Chinese?
Manufacturers will continue to spell it catchup and catsup, but the spelling here shown is that which best resembles its source, the Chinese term, ke-tsiap. The Dutch, who were heavy importers of this…
-
What is the Best Way To Get Ketchup Out of the Bottle?
The very best way to get ketchup out of the bottle, as was once memorably demonstrated by David Letterman, is to grasp the bottle firmly around the bottom and swing it round and…
-
Who Invented the First Computer and When was the First Computer Invented?
Who invented the first computer? The answer depends on your definition of a computer. The first known counting devices or tools were Tally Sticks from about 35,000 BC. The Abacus was then invented…
-
Who Invented the Bathtub and When Was the First Modern Bathtub Invented?
For eons people have used stone, brick, or wooden tubs to bathe in, in or around the home. But two men significantly affected the bathtub as we know it today. John Kohler, a…
-
How Did the Tuxedo Get its Name, Who Invented the Formal Suit, and Where Did it Come From?
In the nineteenth century, the accepted formal dress for men was a suit with long swallowtails. But one evening in 1886, young Griswald Lorillard, the heir to a tobacco fortune, shocked his country…
-
Who Invented Hopscotch, Where Did the Game Get its Name, and Where Did Hopscotch Come From?
Hopscotch was brought to Britain by the Romans, who used it as a military training exercise. The courses were one hundred feet long, and the soldiers ran them in full battle gear to…
