Is tomato paste supposed to be bitter?

I was watching Rachel Ray and she made a gravy with tomato paste and fresh rosemary. I tried to copy her recipe. It was my first time buying tomato paste; it tasted so bitter I had to add sugar to the gravy! Does it always taste that way?
Is tomato paste supposed to be bitter?
yes it does, so you should always be carefull how much you add. It does add depth to sauces if used in the right perportions. To add that sweetness you need an extra step, always caramelize some onion (and carrots if you have them) in your pan, take them out and then add a little tomatoe paste, cook it a little, then deglaze with wine or stock. Also try fresh thyme instead of rosemary, rosemary is a powerful flavor and I would not recommend it for gravies. Try it again! And good luck.
Reply:yes tomato paste is bitter, but it get better in a recipe.
Reply:Most tomato paste does have a bitter flavor. Tomato paste must always be cooked for a while. This will remove the bitterness. It all depends on your personal taste if you want to add sugar
Reply:Tomato paste is "acidic" by nature...nothing wrong with adding some sugar to suit your palette.
Reply:Tomato Paste is very bitter! It's very Acidic, and that causes it to be bitter. Sugar does tame the bitterness, but can also ruin a sauce if you put too much in it. Next time try to add different herbs and spices to cut down on the bitterness!
Reply:It was bitter because of the rosemary!



Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae,



The fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional Mediterranean cuisine as an herb; they have a bitter, astringent taste, which complements oily foods, such as lamb and oily fish.
Reply:i dont think so . i dont like tomato sauce or paste but im guess ing no