When, how and for what purpose was ketchup invented?!
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By the early 18th century, the table sauce had made it to the Malay states (present day Malaysia), where it was discovered by British explorers, and by 1740, it had become an English staple.
Although today's ketchup is tomato based, it did not appear until about a century after other types. By 1801, a recipe for tomato ketchup was created by Sandy Addison and was later printed in an American cookbook, the Sugar House Book.[2] James Mease published another recipe in 1812. In 1824, a ketchup recipe using tomatoes appeared in The Virginia Housewife (an influential 19th-century cookbook written by Mary Randolph, Thomas Jefferson's cousin).
As the century progressed, tomato ketchup began its ascent in popularity in the United States, influenced by the American enthusiasm for tomatoes. Tomato ketchup was sold locally by farmers. A man named Jonas Yerks (or Yerkes) is believed to have been the first man to make tomato ketchup a national phenomenon. By 1837, he had produced and distributed the condiment nationally. Shortly thereafter, other companies followed suit. F. & J. Heinz launched their tomato ketchup in 1876. Heinz tomato ketchup was advertised: "Blessed relief for Mother and the other women in the household!", a slogan which alluded to the lengthy and onerous process required to produce tomato ketchup in the home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup
It is believed first used in Indonesia? Spread threw Asia. A hot spicy sauce. Chi Katch, or something like that in sound. For fish. Brought home by sailors from the orient. 1000s of years old then. Tomatoes were not added till the 1700s in it is believed New England. It has been around for a while.
Well it was not originally made from tomatoes...and it started out in Indonesia. It was made to add flavor to dishes.
