The long history of ketchup in the Western world extends back to the early 16th century, when British settlers in Fuji were introduced to a sauce used by Chinese sailors called ke-tchup. The freaky and not-always-healthy backstory behind some of your favorite eats. Since tomatoes are acidic, they leached lead from the pewter plates and killed unsuspecting, tomato-loving aristocrats. The history of ketchup goes way back to the early 16th century. A little investigating shows that up until around 1800, North Americans widely regarded tomatoes as poisonous. Tomato-based ketchup wasn't always a must-have, though. The list goes on. Ketchup was used as medicine. By 1876, tomatoes had undergone a remarkable turnaround in the court of public opinion. Although, a few decades ago ketchup didn’t quite resemble the current version of the condiment. I’ll bite. When you hear the word ketchup, a rich red puree of tomatoes pops into your mind. A little investigating shows that up until around 1800, North Americans widely regarded tomatoes as poisonous. Etobicoke, Toronto, ON, Canada / Jewel 88.5 Toronto. In 1834, ketchup was sold as a cure for indigestion by an Ohio physician named John Cook. In the early 1800s, ketchup was touted as a medicinal miracle. The long history of ketchup in the Western world extends back to the early 16th century, when British settlers in Fuji were introduced to a sauce used by Chinese sailors called ke-tchup He claimed his recipe could cure: Diarrhea; Indigestion; Jaundice; Rheumatism Apr 8, … The popularization of tomato ketchup didn’t happen in America until 1834. That doesn't mean, however, that people shied away from ketchup. Little wonder that Heinz makes enough ketchup to give everyone on earth two single-serving packets a year. Tomato ketchup was not only popular, but because of the teachings of an influential quack promulgated by the patent medicine trade, tomato ketchup was actually considered to be a sort of tonic, a condiment that was actually healthier than normal ketchup. However, it wasn't because of the tomatoes — it was the pewter. You'll Never Guess What Ketchup Was Used for in the 1800s. Tomato-based ketchup slowly became the ubiquitous form of the condiment in the U.S. and Europe. Pretty soon, Bennett was publishing recipes for tomato ketchup, which were then concentrated into pill form and sold as a patent medicine across the country. It turns out that tomatoes can do extraordinary things for your health. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on your website. In 1834, Dr. John Cooke Bennet added tomatoes to ketchup. French fries are for novices. A true fan knows that you can eat just about anything with ketchup. Bennet may have been on to something, after all. Back in the 1800’s ketchup was once considered a medicine. Heinz didn't make it onto the ketchup scene until 1869. Skin a little yellow? Ketchup, the most widely used condiment across the world, was sold as a medicine in early 1830s. Tomato ketchup is invented Finally, in 1812, the first recipe for tomato-based ketchup debuted. In 1834, the tomato got a makeover. I’ll bite. Don't sweat it — ketchup's got your back (via Mental Floss). The addition of tomatoes meant it added a a plethora of vitamins and antioxidants to the sauce. Different varieties of ketchup were made of berries, grapes, mushrooms, and other foods. It wasn't until the 1800s that tomatoes melded with ketchup to make a surprising, world-changing comeback. Back in the 1800’s ketchup was once considered a medicine. Yes, that’s right, tomato ketchup was once believed to have medicinal properties and was used as a form of medication to cure diarrhoea, indigestion, rheumatism and jaundice. However, in 1834, tomatoes were declared helpful to treat diarrhea, dyspepsia, and other digestive ailments. Previously, ketchup had been a concoction of fish or mushrooms. History of Ketchup Know about the culinary journey of ketchup- from medicine to table condiment. Tomato ketchup was popularized as a condiment commercially in the late 1800’s and today Americans purchases 10 billion ounces of ketchup annually. From a 17th-century fish sauce, ketchup evolved into a patent medicine, a carcinogenic health hazard, and eventually, a non-Newtonian fluid. But in the mid-1800s, ketchup was the medicine. Don't laugh yet. The bottled ketchup will last for several years, due to the amount of salt, which also made the ketchup taste, you guessed it, very salty. Yes, that’s right, tomato ketchup was once believed to have medicinal properties and was used as a form of medication to cure diarrhoea, indigestion, rheumatism and jaundice. Back in the 1800’s ketchup was once considered a medicine. The history of ketchup goes way back to the early 16th century. Up until late 1800s, tomato was considered poisonous and ketchup was made of a variety of ingredients like grapes, mushrooms and berries – but no tomato. The long and short of it is that rich people, who imported tomatoes from South America, were getting sick and dying after eating these delicacies off of their expensive, pewter plates. The history of ketchup goes way back to the early 16th century. In fact, according to Smithsonian Magazine, in the 1700s, Europeans thought that tomatoes were "poison apples." Tomatoes were taboo, yes. That’s why ketchup didn’t contain tomatoes back in those days. Different varieties of ketchup were made of berries, grapes, mushrooms, and other foods. The surprising way ketchup was used in the 1800s, Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. You see, ketchup was once made not from tomatoes, but from mushrooms. The long history of ketchup in the Western world extends back to the early 16th century, when British settlers in Fuji were introduced to a …