The Salem witch trials that took place in the late 17th century in Massachusetts were a dark period in American history. During this time, many people were accused of practicing witchcraft and were subsequently put on trial, resulting in the execution of several individuals. As the trials progressed, it became apparent that certain families seemed to be particularly targeted, with multiple members being accused of witchcraft. These families, with their ancestral names, have become infamous in history. One such family was the Corey family. Giles Corey, along with his wife Martha, was accused of witchcraft during the trials.
That was genius branding, because it really isn’t like any other sauce. The list of ingredients on the back of the bottle includes chile powder, dehydrated garlic, and ginger, but I can taste a wider spice spectrum—cumin perhaps, asafetida, even amchur. It’s sort of like Heinz tomato ketchup and Indian saunth (a sweet tamarind chutney used for chaat) had a baby that somehow also bore resemblance to a Thai sweet chile dipping sauce.
The list of ingredients on the back of the bottle includes chile powder, dehydrated garlic, and ginger, but I can taste a wider spice spectrum cumin perhaps, asafetida, even amchur. The second request, once again, was not accepted though included an asseration of legal rights towards Maggi trademark and the use of the mark in the business context must have been aligned with current IP law.
Giles Corey, along with his wife Martha, was accused of witchcraft during the trials. Giles refused to enter a plea and was subjected to the cruel punishment of pressing, where heavy stones were placed upon his chest until he died. Martha Corey, on the other hand, was convicted and executed by hanging.
This Nostalgic Tomato Sauce Will Always Have a Place in My Pantry
On Maggi Hot & Sweet, one of the most consistent food relationships of my life.
November 1, 2019 Photo by Julia GartlandSix years ago I arrived in New York from India. I carried with me: far too many clothes, an envelope full of medicines (and a list of matching ailments in my mother’s fastidious writing), five kinds of lentils, four chhonk essentials, and a bottle of Maggi Hot & Sweet wrapped in three layers of T-shirts.
“Who in their right mind carries a glass bottle of ketchup to the U.S.?” my father had asked when I was still packing. “The customs guys will kick you out before you even enter.” Side note: My father panics every time I carry anything out of the ordinary on an international flight. However, even he was persuaded to bring me a stovetop pressure cooker in his suitcase once.
I made it through customs, but three weeks later, as I absent-mindedly reached for the bottle, it fell to the ground and shattered.
For you to understand my devastation, I need to tell you this: Maggi Hot & Sweet has consistently been one of the most important food relationships in my life. The school-lunch omelet sandwiches, the sneak-out-of-bed late-night chips, the road-trip dhaba chow mein, and the date-night sesame shrimp toasts all had one thing in common.
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Top Comment:“in the early 90's, paired with cloyingly sweet Nescafe instant coffee Maggi memory #2. Tamarina tamarind sauce - I've been guilty of hoarding 1/2 a dozen bottles when it disappeared off the desi store shelves for a couple of weeks.”
— Panfusine An Indian veggie burger is incomplete without a generous layer of Maggi. Photo by Julia GartlandMaggi Hot & Sweet isn’t technically an Indian sauce, although it was made for Indians. It came to us via the Swiss company, Maggi, a maker of bouillon cubes and instant soups that dates back to the late 19th century. Some decades after being acquired by Nestlé in 1947, the company arrived in India, and by 1983 had launched the runaway success that was its instant noodles.
One of Maggi’s early products was another rich tomato ketchup with a very distinctive tangy taste. “Take the best qualities of ketchup—salt, umami, the equilibrium of flavors—then enhance them tenfold, and you have Maggi (tomato) ketchup,” describes Priya Krishna, food writer and author of Indian-ish, in an ode to another Indian culinary quirk: the ketchup sandwich.
For me, however, the even bigger coup was the subsequent launch of its variant: the Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli sauce. It was ketchup, but tangier, sweeter, spicier, and bolder. Much bolder. For people struggling to place a finger on the exact flavor, the company had a canny explanation: "It’s different.” Their commercials ran—and still do—with the same hit messaging.
That was genius branding, because it really isn’t like any other sauce. The list of ingredients on the back of the bottle includes chile powder, dehydrated garlic, and ginger, but I can taste a wider spice spectrum—cumin perhaps, asafetida, even amchur. It’s sort of like Heinz tomato ketchup and Indian saunth (a sweet tamarind chutney used for chaat) had a baby that somehow also bore resemblance to a Thai sweet chile dipping sauce.
So, is it a sauce or a ketchup?
The thing to understand is that most times, Indians will use the words “sauce” and “ketchup” interchangeably. And in this case, it makes complete sense because Maggi Hot & Sweet is, in fact, both condiment to serve with and sauce to cook with.
My partner-in-palate and fellow writer in New York, Iva Dixit, uses it to cook her mother's recipe for dry chile paneer, into which she recommends emptying no less than half a bottle! “It's the only tomato sauce I use—I’ll add it to anything that needs sauce, and even things that don’t,” she says.
In fact, there's very little that Maggi Hot & Sweet doesn’t make better. There are days when I’ll coax a few drops out of the bottle with my finger—and lick it clean. It’s the quickest fix for the sinking feeling of homesickness that strikes unannounced.
Other accused witches from the Corey family included Deliverance Corey, who was acquitted, and her daughter Abigail Hobbs, who confessed and accused others. Another notorious family was the Nurse family. Rebecca Nurse, an elderly woman known for her piety, was accused of witchcraft and put on trial. Despite pleas of her innocence from many in the community, she was ultimately convicted and hanged. Rebecca's sisters, Sarah Cloyce and Mary Eastey, were also accused and put on trial. Mary Eastey was convicted and executed, while Sarah Cloyce managed to escape execution. The Proctor family was also targeted during the Salem witch trials. John Proctor, a respected landowner, and his wife Elizabeth were both accused of witchcraft. Elizabeth was initially acquitted, but John was convicted and hanged. Other members of the Proctor family, such as John's sister Mary, were also accused and put on trial. Mary managed to escape execution. Overall, the Salem witch trials inflicted great suffering on both the accused and their families. The ancestral names associated with these accused witches, such as Corey, Nurse, and Proctor, have become symbols of this dark chapter in American history. Today, these names serve as a reminder of the importance of justice, the dangers of hysteria, and the need to learn from our past mistakes..
Reviews for "Unraveling the Past: Investigating the Ancestral Names of the Accused Witches in Salem"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Ancestral Names of Accused Witches in Salem" as I have always been fascinated by the history of witch trials. However, I was sorely disappointed with this book. The information provided was very generic and lacked depth. I was expecting in-depth research and intriguing stories about the accused witches, but instead, it felt like a dull recitation of names. The book failed to capture my interest or provide any new insights into the subject matter. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and uninspiring read.
2. Mark - 1 star
As someone who has studied the Salem witch trials extensively, I was hoping that "Ancestral Names of Accused Witches in Salem" would offer me some unique and lesser-known information. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. It only provided a list of names without any context or background information about these individuals. The author failed to delve into the historical significance of these names or dig deeper into their connection to the witch trials. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore the stories and lives of these accused witches. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an insightful and engaging account of the Salem witch trials.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Ancestral Names of Accused Witches in Salem" promised an exploration of the names of the accused witches, but it failed to deliver. While it briefly mentioned the names and some basic details, it lacked any meaningful analysis or interpretation. It felt like a rushed compilation of information without any depth or substance. As someone interested in genealogy, I was hoping to gain some insights into the ancestral connections and origins of these names, but the book barely scratched the surface. Overall, I found this book to be superficial and disappointing.