Mild Ketchup

Mild gourmet ketchup with two Great Taste stars

This mild ketchup from the Zum heiligen Stein manufactory in Hesse is the gentle, sweet, tomato-forward sibling of their original spiced sauce—one of five distinct characters in their range. Handcrafted from 43% Italian tomato paste, cane sugar, and raspberry vinegar, it is vegan and packaged in glass. Not just another loud supermarket ketchup, but award-winning fine food.

The Mild Ketchup from Zum heiligen Stein is a handmade gourmet ketchup from Muschenheim in Hesse, gently balanced yet incredibly tomato-rich. Boris and Nina Sauerborn cook it using Italian tomato paste, cane sugar, and French raspberry vinegar, with no frills attached. Sweet, fruity, and well-rounded—this mild ketchup is a hit with children without ever being mediocre.

Gentle, sweet, incredibly tomato-rich

As soon as you open the jar, the scent of ripe tomatoes hits your nose, warm and sweet, with a subtle berry note from the raspberry vinegar.

On the palate, the mild ketchup is round and full-bodied; the sweetness of the cane sugar supports the fruit without being sticky. No heat pushes to the forefront, no spice overwhelms—here, tomato, berry, and a hint of seasoning are in perfect conversation. The mild version is uncomplicated and loves accompanying a Sunday afternoon with the kids just as much as a late-night snack when all that matters is a warm bratwurst and a dollop of ketchup.

Perfect for fries and bratwurst

The mild ketchup fits everywhere a classic approach is needed: with fries, bratwurst, baked potatoes, and crispy potato wedges. It is the ketchup for a regular appetite that needs no explanation.

It always makes a great impression with a fried egg, on warm farmhouse bread with good ham, or with the currywurst that started it all. Those who prefer it bolder can reach for its spiced or spicy brother—but the mild version remains the peacemaker at the table, trusted even by sensitive palates and little eaters.

From restaurant to family business in Hesse

In 2010, Boris Sauerborn and his wife Nina took over the Zum heiligen Stein restaurant in Muschenheim near Lich, named after the approximately 4,000-year-old megalithic tomb that towers over the village.

The chef originally stirred up his own sauce for a lamb currywurst—and guests wanted to buy it by the jar to take home. Soon, calls came in from Düsseldorf and Holland, reaching a whole new scale. Thus, the restaurant became a small ketchup manufactory, which moved in 2015 into a former bakery with a kitchen of just 12 square meters. "There is nothing better than homemade," says the credo of Grandma Mia, found on every jar.

In 2025, the manufactory moved to larger premises to keep up with steady demand—yet it is still cooked by hand in small batches from a few high-quality ingredients. The mild version even convinced the strict jury of the British Great Taste Award, which awarded it 2 out of 3 stars. While the spiced version is the customer favorite, the mild ketchup wins with Boris's three children. Hats off.

A long spoon for the jar

The ketchup comes in a beautiful jar, ready for the table—the best way to serve it is with a long spoon. Once opened, it stays good for several weeks if refrigerated, provided the 400g jar lasts that long. If you want something festive, try the trio of mild, spiced, and spicy side-by-side—that way you can taste just how finely the manufactory balances its three classics. And if you are looking for a gift, you can rarely go wrong with the mild one—the gentle soul that tastes good to almost everyone.