50-minute English Lesson
We have many easy ESL articles. In this one, ELL students learn the history of ketchup and how it started as a fish sauce.

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easy ESL Article: History of Ketchup
Ketchup is a red, sweet sauce made from tomatoes. But ketchup wasn’t always red or sweet or made from tomatoes. It’s changed a lot since it was discovered in Asia about 500 years ago.
The history of ketchup begins in China.
Chinese sailors frequently traveled to Asian ports in search of trade opportunities. Their business was buying and selling. In Vietnam, they encountered fishermen who had a thick, brown sauce made from anchovies. Though odd in appearance, Chinese sailors liked the sauce. They called it ke-tsiap, which means fish sauce.
Around the 1600s, Chinese sailors met traders from England. The British bought the sauce and sold it in England. English people enjoyed it a lot. Over time, ketchup became an important part of China’s vast global network of trade which included tea, spices, and manufactured products. Factories were eventually established in Indonesia to produce ketchup for export.
Because of its popularity and the cost of shipping from Asia, businessmen in England manufactured their own fish sauce. They made it with different materials like mushrooms, walnuts and beer. But no tomatoes. At this time, people in Europe didn’t eat tomatoes, which were thought to be poisonous.
Two centuries later, tomatoes were used to make ketchup for the first time. This early version had anchovies in order to retain the fishy taste.
In the 1870s, an American named Henry Heinz changed the formula. He removed the fish and added more tomatoes and some sugar. This combination turned ketchup into a red, sweet sauce. That’s basically the same product we buy in shops today.
The history of ketchup is a story about trade and change. The next time you put ketchup on your fries, remember this. You’re eating an international food with roots in an era of globalization once dominated by China.
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Audio
Audio file: 2:18 min
Story length: 299 words

Learn English: Gap Fill
Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.
Ketchup is a red, sweet __________ made from tomatoes. But ketchup wasn’t __________ red or sweet or made from tomatoes. It’s changed a lot since it was __________ in Asia about __________ years ago.
The __________ of ketchup begins in China.
Chinese sailors __________ traveled to Asian ports in search of __________ opportunities. Their business was __________ and selling. In Vietnam, they __________ fishermen who had a __________ , brown sauce made from anchovies. Though odd in appearance, Chinese sailors liked the __________ . They called it ke-tsiap, which means __________ sauce.
Around the __________ , Chinese sailors met traders from England. The British __________ the sauce and sold it in England. English people enjoyed it a lot. Over time, ketchup became an __________ part of China’s vast __________ network of trade which included tea, spices, and manufactured __________ . Factories were eventually established in Indonesia to produce ketchup for __________ .
Because of its __________ and the cost of shipping from Asia, businessmen in England __________ their own fish sauce. They made it with different materials like __________ , walnuts and beer. But no tomatoes. At this time, people in Europe didn’t eat tomatoes, which were thought to be __________ .
Two __________ later, tomatoes were used to make ketchup for the first time. This early __________ had anchovies in order to retain the fishy taste.
In the __________ , an American named Henry Heinz changed the formula. He removed the fish and __________ more tomatoes and some sugar. This combination __________ ketchup into a red, sweet sauce. That’s __________ the same product we buy in shops today.
The history of ketchup is a story about __________ and change. The next __________ you put ketchup on your fries, remember this. You’re eating an __________ food with roots in an era of globalization once __________ by China.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the story.
- What kind of story is this?
- Do you like eating food with ketchup? What’s your favorite?
- Describe the evolution of ketchup from its earliest days.
- Besides cost, does ketchup have any down-sides?
- Name five foods that do not go with ketchup.
Synonym match
Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.
1. trade 2. global 3. poisonous 4. combination 5. roots | a. lethal b. origins c. commerce d. international e. mixture |
Anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL Reading Activities story.
- NOMDDTIEA
- UESCA
- SRIVENO
- SMROUOHSM
- YILPRPOTUA
- TOEPRX
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- and / more / and / added / some / tomatoes / fish / sugar / the / removed / He
- and / The / trade / about / story / history / ketchup / of / is / a / change
- opportunities / Asian / ports / in / sailors / to / of / Chinese / trade / search / traveled / frequently
- 1600s / Chinese / met / from / sailors / the / Around / traders / England
- discovered / was / years / in / a / Asia / 500 / ago / It’s / since / lot / it / changed / about
Another ESL listening story
ESL Reading Activities
Ready to learn English with another free online listening and reading activity? Try this free English lesson about rainbows.
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ESL Reading Activities
Want to print out these ESL listening and reading activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the story.
- What kind of story is this?
- Why did the man want to change into so many different things?
- Why did the main want to be a rock?
- What do you think might happen to the old man?
- What do you think about the mountain spirit? Was the spirit kind or cruel?
- Does this ESL listening story have a message? What is it?
Synonym match
Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.
1. changed 2. block 3. content 4. heavy rain 5. realized | a. happy b. understood c. transformed d. obstruct e. downpour |
Anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL Reading Activities story.
- EARLVES
- NEONTTC
- SOENI
- AMTRKE
- WPEORFUL
- EEYRNG
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- and / was / man / old / happy / the / difficult / life / wasn’t
- up / sun / at / the / he / looked
- the / heard / the / him / old / the / spirit / man / mountain / changed / and / into / sun
- the / it / the / light / land / made / and / dark / sun’s / blocked
- the / than / more / he / stone / cutter / realized / soon / was / a / rock / powerful
Another ESL listening story
Easy ESL stories
Ready to learn English with another free online listening and reading activity? Try this free English lesson about the history of the Rubik’s cube.
Watch a video and take notes
Did you like this ESL articles story? Learn more English by watching this TV commercial for Heinz ketchup with Ed Sheeran.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list with at least eight facts.
Get the worksheet
Easy ESL Articles
Want to print out these ESL listening and reading activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.
Click to see the answers for this easy ESL article activity.
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