Juicy History of Tomatoes? Sweet Tomatoes & Best Types of Tomatoes
If you are like most tomato lovers, you probably are interested in the history of tomatoes too... First, let’s dispel some myths about these fleshy vegetables. Are they really vegetables? And are sweet tomatoes the best? What types of tomatoes are healthier than others? Read on, it’s all on this page! Did you know that more women than men love these colorful, delightful, sensual vegetables? It’s true! They are the third most popular ones, after potatoes and lettuce. But are they vegetables? Not really... Botanically, they are fruits; it's only from a culinary point of view that they are grouped with the other vegetables. Interestingly, the US Supreme Court ruled on this issue in 1893! The verdict? For the purpose of charging a tax, the court classified tomatoes as vegetables. This classification impacted the history of tomatoes to this day. They are the fruits of the plant Lycopersicon lycopersicum, which is a member of the Solanaceae (or the 'deadly' Nightshade) family. Lycopersicon means 'wolf peach' in Latin and refers to the earlier belief that, like wolfs, these fruits are dangerous. But don't be fooled by this myth! Only the plant's leaves contain toxic alkaloids, but not its fruits. The name this fruit was given in different languages reflects the mystery and rich history surrounding it. The History of Tomatoes... In fact, to these days, French call them pommes d'amour (love apples). By the 16th century, they grew exceptionally well in the warm soil surrounding the Mediterranean, and gradually made their way into Greek and Italian cuisines, making culinary history with gazpacho, pasta and pizza. Eventually, in the late 19th century, tomatoes returned to the New World: Spanish colonists took them to the Caribbean islands, where their English name was first coined when British colonists have heard Spanish-owned slaves speak of tomate. This rich history of tomatoes shows how well-traveled they are, like no other vegetable or fruit; regardless of their name, they are a delightfully popular and versatile food.
Different Types of Tomatoes There are over 1,000 different varieties varying in shape, size and color: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, pink, black, brown, white, and bi-colored (green and red, red and yellow, or green and yellow).
Depending on the ripening season, there are early tomatoes harvested during May and June: Early Pick, First Lady, Early Girl, Champion, and Glacier. The midseason, July-Aug are called Heatwave, Big Beef, Big Girl, Big Boy, and Celebrity. Late August and September, the Beefsteak, Wonderboy, Beefmaster, Brandywine and Oxheart are the late season type of tomatoes. If you like tomatoes, you probably love sweet tomatoes... Red or yellow, these cherry-size tomatoes are summer’s delight. Sweet tomatoes are usually left on their vine and continue to develop their special sweetness and flavor for several days. Want best tasting tomatoes? Buy cluster tomatoes on the vine. Why? Because left on the vine they continue to draw nutrients and moisture from the vine for quite a few days after harvesting. You already know that these contain more antioxidants - if you’ve already read about the health benefits of tomatoes >> ^TOP^ Different Types and History of Tomatoes << Return to Raw Food Weight Loss Diet
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