I discovered we have brown sauce in Western Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (388071)
Rockingham, Australia
September 2, 2026 8:00am CST
A few weeks ago, there are a number of comments on a discussion which mentioned ‘brown sauce’. I said I’d never heard of it but not long after that, I actually saw it in a café and took a photo.
I just came across the photo again tonight and thought I’d show you that Western Australia has brown sauce too. I haven’t tried it yet but I’m sure it’s tasty. I mostly stick to tomato sauce. I think maybe it’s more often tomato ketchup in the US. Is that right?
18 people like this
19 responses
@Orson_Kart (8709)
• United Kingdom
3 Sep
It’s a British thing, Anna. Probably too spicy for you! 
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (509295)
• Italy
3 Sep
@GardenGerty 
I am glad I am not the only one to ignore.
I am glad I am not the only one to ignore.1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
2 Sep
I must admit I don't know how brown sauce differs from gravy, and in fact I have rarely heard of it. On a table it would be tomato ketchup.not tomato sauce.also you get dishes of salsa in a Mexican restaurant..no ketchup.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
4 Sep
@JudyEv I was reading about it. We have a similar sauce here called A1. You usually only see it in steakhouses or those that have it on their menu though. I have some here.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (126896)
• United States
2 Sep
Ketchup here is red. I’ve never seen it that color before unless it was a special edition ketchup. Like Heinz once made green ketchup. That’s the only time I’ve seen a kind that wasn’t red. Maybe it is the same thing, they just add color to ours?
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8709)
• United Kingdom
2 Sep
Brown sauce is a British thing. We use it as an alternative to tomato sauce (ketchup). It’s a bit spicier than ketchup. The most famous brand is HP, and another I can remember is Daddies.
It was probably @Traceyjayne who was talking about it. She has lashings of it on her food. 
As a lad, when we were short of fillings, I’d have it in a bread sandwich. Delicious 
As a lad, when we were short of fillings, I’d have it in a bread sandwich. Delicious 2 people like this
Yes, I thought you’d be a Daddies girl. 
@Traceyjayne (13738)
• United Kingdom
3 Sep
I don't have lashings of it ...it is nice on a breakfast though. I like a dippy egg and mix the brown sauce with the runny yolk.
I like Daddies
2 people like this
@Traceyjayne (13738)
• United Kingdom
3 Sep
@Orson_Kart on a full English breakfast it's delicious.
I have milk on my cornflakes .....I'm quite normal really ( sshh don't tell anyone ! )
I was always a Daddies girl ...and I was lucky that I had the best Dad in the world x
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92137)
• United States
2 Sep
I'm not familiar with brown sauce but yes to ketchup here in the US
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (92137)
• United States
4 Sep
@JudyEv it's funny how we all have basically the same stuff yet call it by different names. When I think of tomato sauce I think of pasta and the red sauce we put on it and yet I'd never put ketchup on pasta
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (12845)
• Philippines
4 Sep
I never heard about a brown sauce, thank you for the info.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388071)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
I thought it would be in the Americas but it seems not.
@Manasha (2973)
• Pondicherry, India
3 Sep
Yes, exactly! ?? In the US, **“ketchup”** is much more commonly used than “tomato sauce.” “Tomato sauce” usually means an actual cooked tomato-based sauce, rather than the condiment we put on fries or burgers.
And brown sauce is definitely a thing in Australia too—usually similar to the British-style brown sauce, with a tangy, slightly sweet and spiced flavor. I’m curious whether you’ll like it if you normally stick to tomato sauce! ??
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (140355)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Sep
I looked it up as I had never seen it. Sounds interesting
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (46516)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Sep
I've never heard ketchup called "brown sauce" before. Seeing the photo, it makes sense. But isn't ketchup red? Or are my eyes really that bad, color-wise? Interesting.
Interesting.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388071)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
@MarieCoyle Thanks for the explanation. The tomato sauce and ketchup makes sense. Our sauce would run off the sandwich.
@MarieCoyle (62819)
•
4 Sep
@JudyEv
Yes...our A-1 sauce is brown, too. It's just got a little bit of a tart spicy flavor. Ketchup, it basically tastes like tomato puree...and it's thick, so that it won't slide off your sandwich. Tomato sauce is a big thinner, but it still has some thickness to it, not as thick as ketchup. It's funny how we all have different things, and so interesting to hear about ones we haven't had before.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62819)
•
4 Sep
I was curious and looked it up. Several things I read compared your brown to what we call A-1 Sauce, a bottled sauce we can buy at the grocery that many people like to put on their steak.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62819)
•
6 Sep
@JudyEv
I don't like many steak sauces, I do like A-1. But a little goes a very long way for me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388071)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
I must try to find it on the supermarket shelves and find out what is in it.
@GardenGerty (170554)
• United States
3 Sep
From what I am reading I would guess it is a lot like our barbecue sauces. They are brown or brownish, usually and can vary in spiciness. I prefer tomato ketchup.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388071)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
I should imagine you're correct. We have barbecue sauce too.
@RasmaSandra (100784)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Sep
I make brown gravy from envelopes but do not know brown sauce like that,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388071)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep
I couldn't remember who was involved in the conversation. We talk about 'fish and chips' but sometimes they're called fries. We also have 'potato chips' (dried potato slices) which perhaps you call crisps.
