The Classic Hot Dog Condiment People On TikTok Are Topping KitKats With
If you've ever played the "chocolate or ranch" game where players try to come up with foods that cannot be made better with either topping, you may know the answer — it's chocolate and ranch itself, since the two don't go well together. The TikTok trend of topping a KitKat with ketchup sounds like a strange twist on this game, except people seem to be giving the KitKat-ketchup combo the thumbs up!
Initially apprehensive, several TikTok users showed surprise at how good it tasted, with one user, @onebigpike, even saying "Does the government know about this?" and "Why does that work?" after trying it. Of course, there are those who are aghast at the prospect. However, considering this trend has been around since at least 2021 and is still doing the rounds, there may be something to it.
The unlikely food combination has received so many positive reactions that the companies behind both products (KitKat and Heinz) have responded to it in their own way. Of course, the trend has also received reactions from people horrified at the prospect of combining ketchup and chocolate. And almost as many users seem to have a problem not just with what KitKat bars are being topped with but how they are being eaten.
@onebigpike Reply to @charles_tngtd so damn tasty. #weirdfoodcombo #yum
Reactions to topping KitKat with ketchup are surprisingly positive
While the trend of mixing chocolate and ketchup has been around for some time (long enough for Heinz to even launch Choctchup — a chocolate ketchup sauce), the recent trend of squirting ketchup on KitKats is catching many people unaware. In almost all instances, a huge dollop of ketchup is squeezed onto an exposed bar of KitKat before taking a bite, with commenters then joking about trying it with other condiments like mustard and mayonnaise.
What many users are finding more blasphemous than topping a KitKat with the condiment is reviewers taking large bites out of the candy bar instead of breaking off individual fingers as KitKat etiquette dictates. Several commenters pointed out that they would try the combo, but dip the KitKat in ketchup instead of smearing the condiment on top. Who knows, perhaps pretending that the KitKat finger is actually a French fry might make it feel like a legitimate snack.
Both Heinz and KitKat have acknowledged the viral trend. The ketchup company did so earlier with Choctchup. More recently, KitKat posted a video on its official Instagram channel featuring people trying the combo. This quickly got several reactions including a (comically) concerned message from the official KitKat Canada account asking "Is everything ok over there?" However, two out of the three volunteers in the video who tasted the combination approved of it, which should help you decide if you're on the fence about trying it out for yourself.
Why the chocolate and ketchup combo works
While the combination is unlikely to become your new favorite snack, it's easy to see why anyone with even mildly adventurous tastebuds could end up liking how KitKat and ketchup mix. The flavors involved actually complement each other, with ketchup's salty elements complementing the sweet cacao notes in the KitKat. Similar sweet-salty combinations include salted chips with chocolate ice cream (featured in Ben & Jerry's limited edition flavor — Chip Happens).
The other timeless flavor combination working for ketchup on KitKat is the former's tanginess and the creaminess of milk chocolate. It's similar to how sweet and tart strawberries contrast so deliciously with chocolate. An interesting fact about tomatoes — they evolved from berries, which makes it easier to justify pairing tomatoes and chocolate. However, we'd recommend ruby chocolate as a more gourmet way to experience fruity tanginess blended with chocolate.
Both ketchup and chocolate also have notes of caramel in their aromas, which help them combine well. While you could try the combination with other candy bars as well, another reason ketchup seems to work particularly well with KitKat is that the candy bar's crunchy texture combines with the strong umami notes in ketchup for a pleasing mouthfeel. If you do end up trying ketchup on your KitKat and mixing umami and chocolate sounds like your jam, you may just want to try adding cheese to your hot chocolate next.