Tomato, an exotic fruit with a wide range of uses. Discover all its advantages!

The tomato is not one of the twice-known fruits, but that makes it all the more interesting!

Do you know all its species?

Do you know how to store it properly?

Or where is it used everywhere in the kitchen?

We will tell you all this and much more in our article!

What exactly is a tomato?

These are fruits of fruit also called treetomato, tree or French tomato, which comes from a bush called tamarillo from the region of Peru. This fruit is small, about the size of a duck egg, and comes from the gorse family. Its shades are red, gold and amber, and it contains small, fragile, edible seeds (similar to those of tomatoes). They have an oval shape and are covered with a hard and smooth skin with a bitter taste.

How does a tomato taste?

Imagine a sweet tomato, then add a sharp and lemony touch, a bitter undertone, and you get the taste of a tomato.. The texture is similar to a tomato, including small edible seeds. The color of the fruit can affect its taste – smaller, amber-colored tomatoes have the sweetest flesh and are best in desserts.

If the tomato is red, it will be sharper with a more lemony profile, so it will go well with the main dish or in savory sauces. And then we have golden tomatoes, which are not as sweet as the amber ones, but have more sugar than red tomatoes.

Health benefits of tomatoes

Eating tomatoes has several health benefits such as:

They contain a lot of vitamins

The tomato is loaded with vitamins A, C, E and provitamin A. It is also a good source of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin and riboflavin. Other nutrients in tomatoes are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, calcium, potassium and sodium. It also contains minerals such as phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron. It is enriched with many nutrients that help improve the immune system.

They help with weight loss

It is beneficial for people who want to lose weight. Tomato juice, consumed raw, sprinkled with herbs or tomatoes in the form of salads, acts as a detoxification agent when consumed. Its acidic properties help reduce fat.

It is good for the skin

Vitamins A, C and E contained in tomatoes are responsible for keeping your skin healthy and glowing. Anthocyanins, phenols and flavonoids protect the skin from oxidative stress and pollution. Tomato also helps in the fight against aging. Just like regular tomatoes, they can be used in home remedies for various skin problems.

It helps control diabetes

The chlorogenic acid present in tomato helps lower blood sugar levels in type II diabetes. Type. Tomatoes also contain excellent antioxidants that can reduce oxidative stress in organs such as the pancreas and liver. Eating tomato pulp or consuming its juice on an empty stomach will ensure better results.

Treats inflamed tonsils

In Ecuador, natives heated tomato leaves and wrapped them around their necks to treat inflamed tonsils. Absorption of heat through the leaves helps reduce pain.

Treats high blood pressure

Increase your tomato intake to lower your high blood pressure levels. Packed with good sources of minerals and potassium, this fruit helps regulate blood pressure.

It is good for the heart

Potassium, a nutrient abundant in tomatoes, helps offset the harmful effects of high sodium levels in the heart. In addition, it also contains magnesium, which is important for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. In addition, it has a high fiber content, which helps limit the absorption of bad cholesterol in the body. Thanks to its excellent antioxidant properties, it helps reduce oxidative stress that could otherwise lead to stroke.

Improves eyesight

Tomatoes are also very good for maintaining healthy eyesight. The anthocyanins present in tomato help improve your eyesight.

They are cancer prevention

The anthocyanins in tomatoes have powerful antioxidants that help fight cancer-causing free radicals. They also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that ward off the outbreak of cancer.

Nutritional values of tomatoes

In the following table, see a comparison of the nutritional values of 100 g of fresh tomatoes vs. tomatoes.

Vitamins and minerals in tomato

Also look at the amount of minerals and vitamins that fresh tomatoes contain compared to tomatoes.

Types of tomatoes

Red tomatoes

They are great both raw and cooked or as a garnish for other dishes. They have a dark red skin and dark red pigmentation around the seeds. They are a great source of antioxidants and contain lots of vitamins and minerals.

Amber tomatoes

This variety is the sweetest of all. It is the smallest in size and has a milder, sweeter taste. The skin is golden with a red blush, creating an attractive color combination on your table. Just cut it in half and hollow it out with a spoon. It is also a great puree or topping for pancakes or ice cream.

Golden tomatoes

Golden tomatoes are slightly sweeter than red tomatoes, but not as sweet as amber tomatoes. They’re a fantastic choice when you’re looking for versatility and want to add a little extra flair to your dish. It goes well with sauces or chutneys.

Where to buy tomatoes and how to store them?

Despite its popularity in some countries, it is not easy to find, especially fresh. You can currently buy it in special e-shops with exotic fruits or in Makro. Always choose a tomato that is firm but not hard and should also be brightly colored with no blemishes.

Otherwise, store fresh tomatoes like tomatoes — on the counter, out of direct sunlight. Whole tomatoes can also be kept in the fridge to keep them fresh longer, but they won’t last more than a few days. After slicing, place the fresh tomato in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat or process within three days. If the tomato is already cooked, it can last in the refrigerator for four days if it is kept in a sealed container.

How can we use tomatoes in the kitchen?

Tomatoes are usually added to juices and smoothies, sweet dishes, jams, jams, compotes , but they are also eaten raw. Unlike a tomato, it has a bitter skin, so it is best to peel it before eating. This can be done by first boiling the fruit for a minute to loosen the skin, which is then easily removed. You can also simply place them in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them sit for three to four minutes and then cool them with cold water. Make a small cut with the knife and the skin should slide off easily.

However, if you want to eat the tomato raw , cut it in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. It can be sour, so it is often sprinkled with sugar when eaten.

In exotic countries where the tomato is grown, it is added to hot ingredients or as a garnish to cold dishes , together with cheese, pepper and on toasted bread. It can also be stewed just like tomatoes.

In Colombia, a refreshing juice or cocktail is prepared from it, the fruits are macerated or mixed with water or milk. In New Zealand it is used as a vegetable in salads and savory stews or added to desserts.

More tips on how to consume tomatoes

• Add it to the curry .
• Make an easy salsa by chopping a raw tomato and mixing it with avocado and chopped chili, or use chopped tomato with apple, onion, vinegar, and spices for a tasty chutney .
• Cut the peeled tomato and blend it into a fruit smoothie with yogurt, honey, milk, ice cream and banana.
• Use the peeled tomato in a variety of baked goods, meals and desserts (it’s great in muffins, for example).
• Mix the chopped, peeled tomato with the applesauce, then serve the mixture over ice cream .
• You can also use chopped tomatoes for pizza .
• Cut the raw tomato into slices, then serve the slices with sliced cheese or add crackers or slices to a mixed salad .
• Make a luxurious sauce from them: Fry finely chopped onions or shallots and garlic in a little olive or coconut oil. Add the roughly chopped peeled tomato, season and cook until reduced to a thick sauce.

Use in recipes

• smoothies
• curry sauces
• muffins
• ice cream

Growing tomatoes

Tomatoes grow on subtropical tamarillo bushes and do well in areas with 600 to 4000 millimeters of rainfall and annual temperatures between 15 and 20°C. He hates drought stress and frost. They do well in deep, light and fertile soils. It has fragrant flowers in many colors. Tamarillo has shallow roots and grows to a height of 5 meters. It has a short lifespan and can survive for 12 to 15 years. The leaves are heart-shaped and the flowers are light blue, pink and white. The flowers are replaced by orange, yellow, red, or purple fruit that has a long stalk that is 3 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. The seeds are flat, thin and hard.

Fruits appear from May to October. The fruit is grown in Hawaii and the plant survives there for up to 15 years. After emerging from the flower, the fruit takes 25 weeks to reach maturity. Today, New Zealand is the world’s largest producer of tomatoes.

The history of tomatoes

Historians believe that tamarillo bushes originated in the Peruvian Andes and probably also in Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile. They seem to have disappeared from their native habitat, but are currently cultivated in Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina.

Tamarillo bushes have been an important commercial crop in New Zealand since the 1920s. The plant gained popularity in this country after World War II, when tropical crops producing vitamin C were in short supply. Argentine tamarillo bush seeds were provided to the US Department of Agriculture in 1913, followed a few years later by seeds from Sumatra and Ceylon. Although cultivated in Florida and California, tamarillo is not an important crop in the United States.