Think of ketchup and the first thing that comes to mind is ‘tomatoes’.
But, you will be surprised to know that the thick red delight which enhances the flavour of your Maggi bowl to your chicken tikka is originally a food ingredient and not a condiment.
These are just to name a few, scroll to know some really crazy and interesting facts about ketchup that you might consider bizarre.
1. Originally an ingredient
What we use as a condiment was originally a food ingredient. In early days ketchup was used mainly as an ingredient in dishes like pies and was also used to flavour non-vegetarian dishes made with fish and meat.
2. Uses 5 tastes in 1
The four basic flavours we know include sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. The new addition to the list of flavours is umami. Ketchup is one of the rarest food items that have all the five tastes in it.
3. Earlier it had no tomatoes
Today we all recognize ketchup with tomatoes as the major ingredient. But in early days it was made from anchovies, shallots, oysters, lemons, or even walnuts.
4. Prevents cancer
According to researchers, ketchup is good for the heart and also reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. It is an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant, inhibiting inflammation and cell damage caused by free radicals.
5. Expensive like crazy
You might be getting ketchup sachets at an affordable price today, but earlier, it used to come at a huge price.
6. Largest ketchup packet
The world’s largest ketchup packet was created by the people of Collinsville, Illinois. It was featured in the 2009 Guinness World Record book. (Image: Facebook)
7. Effective cleaner
All thanks to tomatoes and vinegar, ketchup is an inexpensive cleanser and polisher for metals.
8. Multi-purpose ingredient
9. Nutrient-rich
According to experts, consuming 4 tablespoons of ketchup, you get the same nutritional value of an entire medium tomato.
