Posted: September 26, 2023
Is there anything better than a juicy bite of a ripe, homegrown tomato? To find out, Master Gardener volunteers recently held a tomato-tasting event at Adams Hollow Community Garden in Bristol to discover the best flavor of locally grown tomatoes.
Photo of tomato tasting participants. Photo credit: Donna Manion and Donna McCloskey
Enjoy this summary by Donna McCloskey of the event!
Tomatoes often have either a sweet or tart flavor. Why is this? Dr. Randolph Gardner, a tomato breeder at North Carolina University explains that "The ones that taste the most acidic, or sour, have higher level of acids combined with low level of sugars. A tomato high in sugars and low in acids has a sweet taste. If a tomato is low in both acids and sugars, it has a bland taste. The preferred flavor for most people results from high levels of acids combined with high level of sugars to balance the taste." 1
That said, achieving the perfect balance is easier said than done. Tomato flavor happens through a mix of chemistry and garden variables such as temperature, sun, rain, and soil.
For the tasting, the Master Gardener team cut up and labeled seventeen tomato cultivars. Participants were asked to fill out a scoring card to rate the tomatoes based on flavor and texture variables.
- First place was awarded for the Sugar Rush cherry grown by Master Gardener Cindy Starbuck.
- Second place went to Master Gardener Dorothy Knaus for her Red Cherry Large.
- The Striped Roma tomato purchased at the Trenton Farmers Market took Third place.
All those in attendance enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to next year's event which will include an even wider variety of tomatoes to sample.
To learn more about selecting tomato cultivars to grow:
