Description
Delight in the burst of sweetness from our cherry tomatoes, perfect for salads, pasta dishes, skewers, or as a colourful snack. Available in our Local Farm Shop in Bellaghy, Mid Ulster Area.
🍅 Cherry tomatoes are small, vibrant fruits that pack a punch of flavor and charm. Here’s a detailed look at what makes them special:
🌿 Botanical Profile
- Scientific name: Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Family: Solanaceae (same as potatoes and eggplants)
- Shape & Size: Typically round or slightly oblong, ranging from the size of a thumbtip to a golf ball
- Colors: Commonly red, but also found in yellow, orange, green, purple, and even black varieties
🧬 Origins & History
- Believed to be a genetic mix between wild currant-type tomatoes and domesticated garden tomatoes
- Native to South America, especially the Andes region, and later domesticated in Mexico
- First referenced in European literature in 1623 by Swiss botanist Caspar Bauhin
- Commercial varieties were popularized in the 1970s by Israeli scientists who bred them for better shelf life and flavor
🍽️ Culinary Highlights
- Flavor: Sweet, juicy, and slightly tangy with a thin skin that bursts in your mouth
- Uses: Perfect raw in salads, salsas, and snacks; delicious roasted, grilled, or sautéed
- Popular Varieties:
- Sungold: Bright orange and exceptionally sweet
- Sweet Million: High-yielding with uniform red fruits
- Black Cherry: Deep purple-red with complex flavor
🧠 Fun Facts
- Cherry tomatoes are often confused with grape tomatoes, which are more oblong and have thicker skin
- Some varieties, like Matt’s Wild Cherry, closely resemble wild tomato ancestors
- They’re easy to grow in pots and thrive in sunny conditions with well-drained soil
