Canadian vs American Heinz Ketchup [moved from Quebec board]

[blondee_47]

I was conversing this weekend and the topic of Ketchup came up: this person said that there is a definite difference in Heinz Ketchup here vs the same brand in the States. He said the 'American' version has more vinegar and our version is sweeter.

He has his sister who always comes to visit and brings back bottles because she cannot stand the Heinz made in the 'States'

Anybody else have thoughts on this? I was intrigued by this fact, if it is a fact.

[KrisKay]

funny the sweeter one should be preferred. I'm just the opposite. & different countries certainly prefer different "flavor profiles". interesting, probably true & totally makes sense.

[Davwud]

Having tried both I'll take ours (Canadian) over theirs any day.

Is it better, IMHO it is. But that's what I'm used to.

I haven't done an Oreo taste test but our Diet Pepsi is better than theirs. IMHO again.

One other thing. Depending on where it's made, I understand there to be a significant difference in Dr. Pepper. There are people who will only buy it in certain states.

DT

[bbqboy]

I wasn't aware of regional soda pop formulations for major brands, only the new real sugar editions. Do you think Pepsi as a brand is different in Canada?

[Davwud]

I don't know. All I can tell you is the DP I used to drink in the states was not nearly what it was here.

DT

[bbqboy]

You'll PO a lot of Texans with that statement. :)

[Davwud]

I'm sure they prefer theirs. It's most likely just what we're used to.

DT

[km_mcrc]

Don't know about Pepsi but there's definitely a difference in the Diet Coke. The Canadian, which I prefer, isn't as sweet.

[Shazam]

Yes, it is different.

http://www.heinzitup.com/funfacts.asp

[Sooeygun]

Not sure about the diff in flavour, but the Cdn version doesn't have HFCS.

[livetocook]

I haven't seen HFCS on any of our (Canadian) labels but, Glucose-fructose is. My understanding was that it was the same? No?

Just check my bottle (bought at Costco) and it says "proudly prepared in Canada" and the sugar ingredient is specially "liquid sugar"

[Sooeygun]

You are correct. We don't list it as HFCS, but rather glucose-fructose. I used the term HFCS because that's what everyone here knows it as. Heinz ketchup here has liquid sugar which is not HFCS.

And the Heinz Organic sold in the US is made here in Canada as well. I have read the Organic is made from California tomatoes (as opposed the Cdn ketchup made with Ontario tomatoes). So tomatoes shipped up to Canada and then the ketchup shipped back down. That's a lot of travel.

[gnomatic]

Made in Leamington Ontario. Where there's a giant big tomato water tower. I had a college roommate who came from there. She used to tell me stories about Heinz (a lot of her relatives worked there at some point)....that they have to use green tomatoes in Ketchup, because using all red ones produces a REALLY deep dark color.

[KrisKay]

cool. thanks for sharing. very interesting.

[KrisKay]

weird.

[MikeyMadness]

IMO, like many of the big name products (Coke, Oreos, Doritos and the like) that are here & there, there are many subtle differences. I find that most product are sweeter here (in Canada), at least the ones that are able too. Heinz catsup, ;), being one of them.

[quirkydeb]

I thought it was sweeter in Quebec! Just returned home to the US after a trip to Quebec when I kept telling my husband the ketchup seemed sweeter there. Canadian peanut butter also seemed different than American peanut butter. Not less sweet, or less salty, but just less peanutty than here in the US.

[cyberveg]

Not sure about Canada vs. US, but my understanding was that the Quebec recipe is sweeter than the English-Canada one....Maybe just an urban myth?

[MikeyMadness]

It is my understanding that the Heinz recipe does not vary from province to province. And that shipments are not broken down in that manner.