We tried Heinz's Mayochup sauce that's dividing the internet — and it's not at all what you'd expect

• Heinz's Mayochup is now available in the United States.


• The newly released condiment is advertised as a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise and "a special blend of spices."


• We got our hands on a bottle of the divisive sauce.


• The actual sauce is a little too zesty to taste like a pure combination of mayonnaise and ketchup, but stands on its own as a surprisingly tasty condiment.

Heinz's announcement of Mayochup earlier this year completely divided the internet. While some people were excited by the idea of mayonnaise and ketchup combined into one sauce, others found the mixture strange. Some even raised concerns over the origins of this condiment recipe.

As the Washington Post points out, similar sauce recipes featuring a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise can be found in cuisines from all over the world. Puerto Rico has a version called "mayoketchup," Latin American countries refer to it as "salsa rosada" or "pink sauce," and it's also present in various other recipes across Eastern Europe, the Balkan countries, and the Middle East. Even Utah claims to have invented a version of it under the moniker "fry sauce."

#Mayochup is finally here. Saucy. pic.twitter.com/9W2b8pYNfx

— Heinz Ketchup (@HeinzKetchup_US) September 21, 2018

Though the exact origins remain unclear, most Americans such as myself probably only know the mixture as a haphazard homemade concoction. I spent many lunches in the middle school cafeteria expertly crafting the perfect ratio of mayo to ketchup, so I was interested to try Heinz's mass-produced version of the literal only recipe I know how to make.

Heinz originally started selling the sauce in the Middle East in April, but now it's finally making it's way to the United States. Walmart is currently selling the 16.5-ounce bottle of Mayochup for $2.98. A 14-ounce bottle of Heinz ketchup will currently run you $1.79, while a 15-ounce jar of Heinz mayonnaise costs $2.98, so you're essentially getting the two mixed together for the price of one jar of mayo.

We were able to get our hands on some Mayochup for a test

Upon first glance, the sauce is a pale shade of reddish-pink with some mysterious red flecks I suspect are the "special blend of spices" named on the bottle. According to the ingredients list, those spices appear to mainly be paprika, garlic, and onion powder.

As I squeezed it out onto a plate, I was surprised by how thick the condiment is. It's quite dense and would be better classified as a "spread" than a sauce or dip. Heinz actually refers to it as a "Saucy Sauce" on the label, and I have literally no idea what that means.

I decided to use some Burger King fries as a vessel for the sauce, because my refined palette believes that the King offers the best, most dippable fried potato option in the fast-food world. 

After taking a whiff of its tangy and vinegary aroma, it was time for the moment of truth. I dipped a fry in the sauce, took a bite, and was surprised by the complex and layered flavor experience that hit my taste buds.

At first, it tastes just like plain creamy mayo and is a little underwhelming

Then you're quickly hit with a tang of vinegar and tomato that is unmistakably Heinz classic ketchup. Finally, the spicy paprika and sharp garlic powder come through to add a zesty kick that ties the two flavor profiles together.

The result? It basically tastes like a less sweet Thousand Island salad dressing with a few additional spices thrown in. It's tasty in a strangely curious way, but also has too much of a tangy "bite" from the spices to taste like pure mayonnaise and ketchup mixed together.

I also managed to convince some fellow INSIDERs into trying it and the response was ... mixed

"It's 'meh' at best," Associate Syndication Editor Micaela Garber said. "It kind of mostly tastes like ketchup. I don't hate it, and I actually hate regular mayo, but I wouldn't buy it."

Distribution Editor Cassidy Hopkins also made a good point — the customization of homemade "mayochup" is lost in the premade version.

"The best part about mixing your own is that you can control the ratio," Cassidy said. "This tastes too 50/50 to me, I'd like more mayonnaise."

Health Editor Leah Rocketto had the most positive reaction of the bunch, but felt it was nothing special. 

"This is basically every 'secret sauce' you get at a restaurant," Leah said. "But this would be really good on a sandwich."

Interestingly, the reactions were not nearly as extreme as the initial online chatter.

The overall consensus seemed to be that it was "interesting," with nobody either hating or loving it

The most surprising thing about Mayochup — other than its mere existence — is that it definitely stands apart as its own sauce. If you truly love the taste of mayo and ketchup combined, Mayochup won't replace that experience in one convenient bottle. However, if you approach it as a completely separate "saucy sauce," it might just find a place in your kitchen.

Seeing as it's already a condiment staple in various parts of the world, it might just be time for the US to finally ketchup. I'll see myself out.

Heinz provided INSIDER with a sample bottle for the purposes of this review.

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