In a highly unscientific but nonpartisan taste test, the "Democratic" ketchup won every vote but one.
By COLETTE BANCROFT
Published August 3, 2004
[Times photos:
Bob Croslin]
Heinz ketchup
Bush Country ketchup
W ketchup
Pour on the politics
Two sets of Republican entrepreneurs are hoping party loyalists will buy their ketchup and shun Heinz. They're in it for the cause - and the cash.
No need for a recount this time. In a blind taste test of Bush Country, W and Heinz ketchups, Heinz won in a landslide. But the voting did have an interesting twist.
We asked a panel of 16 St. Petersburg Times staffers in the newsfeatures, business and copy services departments - carefully chosen on the basis that they were around the office when we brought a batch of french/freedom fries up from the cafeteria - to sample the three ketchups.
The condiments were served in identical bowls, with no identifying marks. Most of our testers dipped fries, politely avoiding double dips, while a few opted for spooning the ketchup up straight. After tasting all three, they voted for their favorite.
The results were nearly unanimous: 15 votes for Heinz. Many tasters declared (correctly) that they knew which one was Heinz just from its taste and texture. "It's the only ketchup I buy," one said.
Some tasters wavered between Heinz and W, which is similar in texture and color. But most said W tasted sweeter, and one didn't like its aftertaste.
Bush Country looked markedly different from the other two ketchups, with a chunkier texture and darker red color. It also elicited stronger reactions, ranging from "tastes like barbecue sauce" to "yuck."
But Bush Country did get one vote, from Times restaurant critic Chris Sherman. "Heinz is a perfect crowd-pleaser with a slight vinegar edge," he said. He called W ketchup "a good copy."
He agreed that Bush Country tasted more like barbecue sauce but liked its spiciness.
"The spices were from the sweet end of the spice rack and a tiny bit of pepper. If you took that far enough, you'd get to curry flavors, which is the point," he said.
Patrick Spero of Bush Country says his ketchup is "gourmet grade."
When he and his partner came up with the ketchup concept, he says, "We contacted a ketchup broker - yes, they really do exist - who told us about the gourmet ketchup. And we figured of course we want gourmet because conservatives deserve only the very best."
