In grocery stores you have a choice between ketchup and Katsup. Is there a difference? If there is no difference than why do we use two very similar but different words to describe teh same exact thing?
2006-09-05 11:13:34 · 16 answers · asked by bradley n 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
it's "CATSUP" not "KATSUP"
2006-09-05 11:21:47 · answer #1 · answered by br549 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They are the same thing, only alternate spellings. The word comes from a Chinese word, ke tsiap, for a sweet-and-sour condiment that was originally made from plums. Ketchup/catsup became popular in the US in the early 20th century as Chinese laborers settled here and Chinese food became fashionable. If you go back and look at early-20th c. American cookbooks, you can find recipes for homemade ketchup made from all kinds of different things. I have one from an old cookbook that belonged to my grandmother that's made from mushrooms! (I've never made it though--I prefer Heinz.)
The spelling difference is just because (of course) the Chinese alphabet uses characters instead of letters, so when you try to make an English word from a Chinese one, you sort of have to choose your letters as you go along. Both are correct and they refer to the same thing.
2006-09-05 11:27:01 · answer #2 · answered by Leslie D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spelling. Although I prefer ketchup.
2006-09-05 14:29:32 · answer #3 · answered by Andie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trademarks is the only difference. One owns Ketchup and one owns Catsup
2006-09-05 11:20:38 · answer #4 · answered by Jeep Driver 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Katsup" is not a word, just a misspell for ketchup.
2006-09-05 11:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by justastranger 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they are the same and people just wanted 2 different names.
2006-09-05 11:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by jellybean 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Spelling! The ingredients are still the same: tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, salt, and spice.
2006-09-05 11:20:16 · answer #7 · answered by looking4ziza 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There isn't any. It's just an antiquated term. No one actually calls it catsup anymore.
2006-09-05 11:36:11 · answer #8 · answered by elk312 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difference is the spelling. That is it.
2006-09-05 11:18:44 · answer #9 · answered by legendofthew 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
katsup is the redneck version..... im not trying to be funny, but rednecks always use that term... why? you ask? no idea
2006-09-05 11:18:38 · answer #10 · answered by kansasman242 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are both the same.Some people just pronounce it differently.
2006-09-05 11:41:06 · answer #11 · answered by Celebrity girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋