Banana Ketchup

😛 Bottles of UFC Tamis Anghang Banana Catsup on Store Shelf. Photos by Angie Pastor.

Banana ketchup is a popular Filipino condiment made from bananas, sugar, vinegar and spices. Its natural color is brownish, but it is colored red to resemble tomato ketchup.

Banana ketchup was invented in the Philippines in response to a shortage of tomatoes during World War II. It is now considered a vital ingredient in Filipino spaghetti.

Popular brands of banana ketchup have included UFC, Jufran, Mafran, Papa and Del Monte Sweet Blend.

UFC, Papa, and Jufran are all NutriAsia brands.

In the United States, you can easily order banana ketchup from Amazon. #aff
 
*Note that banana catsup is not unique to the Philippines. The Caribbean nations also have ketchup made with banana pulp, tomato paste, and vinegar. Their leading brand is Baron, which has food coloring but no added sugar!

Tamis Anghang means “Sweet Hot-Spicy.”