What are the characteristics of the tree tomato, and how do the best varieties taste?
Do you know what the tomato that is not a tomato is? It is the tree tomato. What does the tree tomato look like, and what characteristics does it have? Let's take a look!
The tree tomato is a perennial evergreen woody plant in the Solanaceae family (Cyphomandra genus), in the same family as the tomato (Solanum genus) but a different genus. It originated in the Andes Mountains of South America. The plant can reach 5 m in height, with a straight trunk and fast growth. Seedlings bear fruit in about 2 years, and the plant can live for more than ten years. The flesh is firmer than that of the tomato, and the flavor is sweet-sour with a slight passion fruit taste. Besides being eaten fresh, it can also be used in place of tomato in cooking. The fruiting period is very long, with fruit for nearly nine months of the year. A three-year-old plant produces nearly 20 kg per year. The fruit is rich in vitamins and iron and can be grown all over Taiwan, China. This species is an economic variety introduced from New Zealand. The fruit is large and long-conical, weighing 60-75 grams, with orange-red skin and no spots. The flesh is firm and juicy, low in acidity and highly palatable, with extremely thin seeds that are easy to swallow, and a strong passion fruit flavor. Its quality far surpasses that of the traditional old variety. There is currently a small amount of commercial production in Taiwan, China
The tree tomato grows very quickly. It takes only 4 years to grow from a seedling to 5 m tall. Two years after planting, it can begin to bear fruit, and at four years of age the plant enters its high-yield stage. The lifespan of the plant is about 12 years. The trunk is straight, and the leaves are evergreen all year round, with a pungent, sharp smell. The tree tomato has low requirements for soil, but it greatly likes humid air and rainfall,
The variety currently grown in Taiwan, China is Red Fragrant tree tomato (Hongxiang), characterized by large, beautifully colored fruit, extremely thin seeds, strong aroma, sweet flavor and low acidity.
Best way to eat it: soften the fruit by squeezing it in your hand, cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
