TikTok star reveals what Aussies get wrong about tomato sauce

It’s considered an Aussie sin to refer to it as anything other than tomato sauce – but there’s one big problem with this label.

In Australia one of the biggest social faux pas you can make is calling food by its Americanised name.

Ask for toast with strawberry jelly instead of jam? Unacceptable. Request fries with ketchup at your local chippie? Expect to be judged.

And don’t even get us started on the peppers over capsicum confusion you would cause at a supermarket.

But one Sydney man has defended his use of the word ketchup, explaining there’s a big difference between it and tomato sauce – despite the latter being used interchangeably to describe both condiments in Australia.

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Ketchup is actually more ‘processed’ and has a different taste. Picture: TikTok/@chebbo.

While tomato sauce is more ‘neutral’ in taste. Picture: TikTok/@chebbo.

Ali Chebbani, who runs TikTok account @chebbo as well as his own food business Chebbo’s Burgers, explained the difference in a video posted on Thursday.

Responding to a follower who had claimed “real Aussies call it tomato sauce”, Mr Chebbani explained there was actually a difference between ketchup and tomato sauce that went beyond the name.

“Whenever I’ve made a burger with ketchup – yes, ketchup – everyone in the comments likes to say, ‘ugh you’re not from America, why did you say ketchup?’” he said.

“Well let me explain this to you: Ketchup, tomato sauce are two different things.

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Mr Chebbani’s video got over 194,000 views. Picture: TikTok/@chebbo.

“Tomato sauce has a bit more of a neutral taste whereas ketchup is a bit more processed, has a bit more salt and spices.”

Mr Chebbani said that he was “not trying to be a snooty food critic” and doesn’t believe “that one is better than the other”.

“But at the end of the day there is a difference that has to be appreciated,” he added.

The foodie’s video has so far gotten more than 194,000 views as well as more than 200 comments from Aussies, many who were surprised by the video.

“No way … had no idea they were different,” one person wrote.

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Many Aussies were surprised to learn there was a difference between ketchup and tomato sauce. Picture: TikTok/@chebbo.

“Mind blown,” another commented.

“Finally someone who understands there’s a difference,” one wrote.

Others said they were pleased someone had finally explained the difference between the two condiments, with one person joking it was “a fight they will never stop fighting”.

“Thank you I am so tired of trying to explain this to my friends,” another commented.

“As a Canadian living in Australia, I miss ketchup in restaurants,” one person wrote.

“Difference is the vinegar in the recipe,” one person wrote, with another viewer saying that ketchup was more “acidic” in taste.

Originally published as TikTok star reveals what Aussies get wrong about tomato sauce