A.1. Sauce facts for kids
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| Owner | In North America Kraft Heinz |
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| Introduced | 1831 |
A.1. Sauce is a popular brown sauce. It's made by different companies around the world. In the United Kingdom, it's made by Premier Foods. In North America, Kraft Heinz makes it.
People have been using A.1. Sauce since 1831! It was first sold in the United Kingdom for many kinds of food. These included fish, meat, and even wild game. Later, it came to Canada and the U.S.. In the U.S., it became famous as a steak sauce. Even today, A.1. Sauce is made in England and sent to Asia. In 2014, Kraft Foods in North America changed the name. They dropped "Steak" from "A.1. Steak Sauce". This was to show that people use it on more than just steak.
Contents
The Story of A.1. Sauce
How A.1. Sauce Began
The original recipe for A.1. Sauce was created in 1824. Henderson William Brand was a chef for King George IV of the United Kingdom. He made this special sauce. There's a fun story that the King loved it so much he called it "A.1." This means "first-rate" or "the best." The term "A.1." actually comes from shipping. It described the best quality ships.
The sauce started being sold in 1831 by Brand & Co. It was sold as a sauce for fish, meat, and fowl. The company continued to make it even after ownership changes. In 1873, it was officially named A.1. Sauce. This happened after a disagreement over the name. Brand & Co. kept making the sauce until the late 1970s.
A.1. Sauce in North America
A.1. Sauce was officially registered as a trademark in the U.S. in 1895. It was brought to the United States by G. F. Heublein & Brothers in 1906. By the early 1960s, it was widely known as "A.1. Steak Sauce" in the U.S.
Over the years, different companies have owned the A.1. brand. In North America, Kraft Foods bought the rights to A.1. in 1999. In the UK, Premier Foods now owns the brand.
New Flavors and Fun Ads
In the 1980s, new flavors of A.1. Sauce were tried in the U.S. But these didn't last long. In 2000, A.1. also launched a line of marinades.
Famous rock musician Meat Loaf even appeared in a TV commercial for A.1. Sauce! The slogan was "A.1.—Makes beef sing." In his ad, it was changed to "Makes Meat Loaf sing." He sang a short part of his hit song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)".
What's in A.1. Sauce?
The ingredients in A.1. Sauce can be a bit different depending on where you buy it.
A.1. Sauce in the U.S.
In the U.S., A.1. Sauce usually has:
- Tomato purée
- Raisin paste
- Spirit vinegar
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Crushed orange purée
- Dried garlic and onions
- Spice
- Celery seed
- Caramel color (for its brown look)
- Potassium sorbate (a preservative)
- Xanthan gum (to make it thick)
A.1. Sauce in Canada
The recipe for A.1. Sauce in Canada is a bit different. It includes:
- Tomato purée
- Marmalade
- Raisins
- Onions
- Garlic
- Malt vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
- Tragacanth (a thickener)
- Spices and flavorings
See Also
