Tomatoes, native to South America, were introduced to Europe by explorers and are now a staple in many kitchens. There are thousands of varieties, including globe, Roma, small cherry and pear, and heirloom tomatoes with unique flavors and uses.
Tomatoes are annual plants native to South America, grown for their colorful and juicy fruit. When European explorers first arrived in the Americas, they were introduced to the tomato and brought the flavorful fruit with them. While the nightshade relative was initially met with suspicion, it was eventually embraced and the tomato has become a ubiquitous feature in the kitchens of many nations.
As should come as no surprise, there are different varieties of tomato. Commercially, scores are in active cultivation and estimates suggest there may be several thousand types. These tomatoes range in size from giant steak to tiny cherry tomatoes and come in colors like yellow, green, and purple in addition to classic red. Many also have unique flavors and are better suited for some applications than others.
The classic group of globe tomatoes, which includes steak, includes the one that tends to be red and roughly round. Globe tomatoes can be eaten raw or cooked and tend to have firm, flavorful flesh. These varieties are among the most commercially grown, as they have such a wide range of potential uses.
Roma tomatoes, on the other hand, tend to have a more oblong shape and are better suited for cooking and aging in products such as tomato paste. Some people call members of this group “paste tomatoes,” for this very reason. Plum tomatoes are also classified in this group, although they are much smaller than many other Roma varieties.
Many cooks like to work with small tomatoes such as the cherry and pear varieties. These tomatoes are often packed with flavor and make an excellent addition to dishes such as salads and salsa. They also tend to be sweeter than other varieties, especially when yellow, as yellow tomatoes are generally sweeter. In many cases, the small tomatoes are sold on the vine, with consumers pulling the fruit out as needed.
The umbrella term “heirloom tomatoes” is used to refer to a number of traditional varieties such as brandywines and zebras. Heirlooms tend to be tastier and meatier and can be seeded more abundantly. They also exist in intriguing color combinations, such as striped green and white or purple and green, and can also come in irregular shapes. These type of tomatoes are delicious raw and cooked and are available at many grocery stores and farmers markets.
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