HP Sauce - Can't Stand It!
By Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21504)
London, England
October 12, 2016 5:09am CST
At King's Cross Station, the other Friday, I had a cup of tea while waiting for my train.
Thinking of nothing in particular I spotted this bottle of HP Sauce. I don't like brown sauce and even the smell puts me off, but I did have a little ponder on the substance.
HP, or Houses of Parliament, has been around for over a century and this brand of brown sauce has nearly 75% of the UK market. It got its name after the inventor found out it was served in the Parliament restaurant. The sauce is a blend of malt vinegar, tomatoes, dates, tamarind and spices. There is also a fruitier blend available and I'm told that the Canadian version is even spicier.
What I find amusing is that this most British of sauces is now owned by Heinz and is made in the Netherlands! While you can't see it in the picture, there is also a bottle of Heinz ketchup. What is missing is English Mustard, now that is a terrible oversight when it comes to a 'fry up'.
9 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (502149)
• Italy
12 Oct 16
@Ronrybs I have not tried Toblerone, the next time I will be offered a piece to taste at the supermarket I will and then I let you know. I see that Cadbury has been sold to Mondelez International (originally Kraft Foods) since 2010. I think that also Toblerone has been sold to the same company.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
20 Dec 19
I absolutely love that stuff.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
12 Oct 16
The older I get, the stronger the taste of vinegar seems to be in the tomato and brown sauces. I much prefer the fruitier mix.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
12 Oct 16
@Ronrybs Our tastes definitely change.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Oct 16
I know that there is an English steak sauce that I really like. Can't remember what it's called, unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
12 Oct 16
Yes the version here in Canadian is quite spicy. I really don't like it at all. It is very similar to streak spice. Thanks for the history on it. I never knew that.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
12 Oct 16
I think the main different in taste would be that HP sauce contains molasses where steak sauce is more tomato based!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
12 Oct 16
Since the HP Sauce is now owned by Heinz ,I doubt if it is still the authentic one.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
12 Oct 16
I have never heard of this before. It sounds interesting. What types of foods what you put it on ?
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 16
I don't mind HP but rarely use it.
My biggest issue is worcester sauce is now US owned...a national disgrace
...I put the LOL in there but I'm not really laughing.
I am seriously fed up of these quintessentially british brands being sold of to us conglomerates.
...I put the LOL in there but I'm not really laughing.
I am seriously fed up of these quintessentially british brands being sold of to us conglomerates.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
12 Oct 16
Never heard of it, but it sounds a bit like steak sauce.
1 person likes this
