Why do they call ketchup,... ketchup?

Answer 1

Ketchup was first introduced by the Chinese. The most popular theory is that the word ketchup was derived from "koe-chiap" or "ke-tsiap" in the Amoy dialect of China, where it meant the brine of pickled fish or shellfish. Ketchup in the old days was not like ketchup of today. "Ketchup" was made of tomatoes, cabbage, and eggplant. "Ketchup" was used to enhance the flavor of noodles.