We know it makes a mean Bloody Mary , we kind of know how to pronounce it , but WTF is Worcestershire sauce actually made of, anyway? If youve just been smothering your steaks with this sauce and have had no idea whats in it, you might be in for a rude awakening.

Brace yourself, guys. The main ingredient that gives most Worcestershire sauce its umami flavor is anchovies. Actually, fermented anchovies. Worcestershire gets its intense taste from anchovies that have been left to ferment in vinegar for a duration of 18 months.

Hows that steak tasting now?

The other ingredients that make up this savory sauce usually include onions, molasses, high fructose corn syrup (depending on the country of production), salt, garlic, tamarind, cloves, chili pepper extract, water and natural flavorings.

That last ingredient is a well guarded secret of Lea & Perrins, the company that developed this sauce back in the 1830s. Some speculation as to whats in the sauce suggests asafoetida a flavor-enhancing spice that is a regular component of Indian cuisine that smells fetid when raw as well as soy sauce, lemons and pickles. But those ingredients have not been confirmed.