Skip to content
TrueNorthBriefQuick, clear answers for curious Canadians
Food

Hp Sauce

What is hp sauce?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Type British brown sauce[1]
Main ingredients Tomatoes, malt vinegar, molasses[1]
Inventor Frederick Gibson Garton[2]
Origin place Nottingham[2]
Introduced 1895[1]
Current maker Heinz[1]

HP Sauce is a British brown sauce used as a condiment, made primarily from tomatoes, malt vinegar, and molasses. It was developed in Nottingham and introduced in 1895. The name "HP" stands for Houses of Parliament. It is now made by Heinz in the Netherlands.

Context

HP Sauce is a British brown sauce used as a condiment, made primarily from tomatoes, malt vinegar, and molasses [1]. It was developed by Frederick Gibson Garton, a grocer from Nottingham, and later sold to Edwin Samson Moore / the Midlands Vinegar Company [2]. The name "HP" stands for Houses of Parliament, based on a story that it was being served there [3]. It was introduced in 1895 and is now made by Heinz in the Netherlands [1]. It is sometimes confused with Worcestershire sauce, but they are distinct condiments [1].

Documented claims

  • HP Sauce was developed by Frederick Gibson Garton, a grocer from Nottingham, and later sold to Edwin Samson Moore / the Midlands Vinegar Company. [2]
  • The name "HP" is explained by sources as a reference to the Houses of Parliament, based on a story that it was being served there. [3]

Questions and answers

What does HP on sauce stand for?

The "HP" stands for Houses of Parliament, based on a story that the sauce was being served there [3].

What does HP Sauce taste like?

HP Sauce is a brown sauce with a tangy, slightly sweet flavor from tomatoes, malt vinegar, and molasses [1].

What is the US equivalent of HP Sauce?

HP Sauce is often compared to American steak sauce, though it is a distinct British brown sauce [1].

Sources

  1. What Is HP Sauce? The Sticky History Behind the UK's ... — mentalfloss.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. HP Sauce: History of Britain's Iconic Century-Old Sauce — rimping.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. What Is HP Brown Sauce (& Is It The Same As American Steak ... — tastingtable.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Food