17 Old-School Tomato Varieties with Flavors You Will Not Find in Supermarket Packs
When it comes to tomatoes, most of us are used to the same basic varieties we find in the supermarket. However, there is a whole world of old-school heirloom tomatoes that offer flavors you simply will not find in those store-bought packs. These tomatoes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, each with its own unique taste that is richer and more complex than what you typically get off the shelf. Whether you are a gardener looking for a challenge or a food lover seeking new flavors, these varieties bring something special to the table. From sweet and tangy to smoky and earthy, their bold tastes are perfect for fresh salads, sandwiches, or even just enjoying on their own.
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Brandywine
Brandywine is a beloved heirloom tomato that has a rich history, dating back to the 1880s. This variety is known for its large, pinkish-red fruit and deliciously sweet flavor that blends hints of citrus with a deep, savory richness. It is often considered one of the best-tasting tomatoes available due to its smooth, creamy texture.
The Brandywine’s flesh is juicy, making it ideal for fresh eating, sandwiches, and salads. While it is a bit more delicate than supermarket varieties, it rewards gardeners with a robust, multi-layered flavor that is hard to match. This variety thrives in warm climates and can produce fruit throughout the summer. Despite its popularity among home gardeners, it remains rare in grocery stores, where uniformity and long shelf life are prioritized over taste.
Black Krim
Black Krim is a unique tomato variety originating from the Black Sea region. It has dark, purplish-brown skin that gives it its name, with a rich, slightly smoky flavor that is both sweet and tangy. The flesh is tender and juicy, offering a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness, making it ideal for slicing and using in fresh dishes like salads or on top of burgers.
The Black Krim is particularly popular for its ability to perform well in a range of conditions, especially in areas with hotter summers. It is often described as having a more complex flavor profile compared to the more basic taste of supermarket tomatoes. While it can be grown easily in home gardens, finding it in grocery stores is rare due to its non-standard appearance and limited shelf life.
Green Zebra
Green Zebra is an unusual tomato variety that features bright green stripes on its yellow-green skin. Its flavor is equally distinctive, combining a tart, tangy punch with a slightly sweet aftertaste. The Green Zebra’s zesty flavor makes it a fantastic addition to salads, salsas, and chutneys. While its appearance may not appeal to every consumer, those who appreciate bold, acidic flavors will find this variety a real treat.
The tomato has a firm, dense texture that holds up well in cooking and can be used in a variety of dishes where a little extra kick is desired. Green Zebra thrives in warm climates, though its unique color and taste make it a rare find on supermarket shelves. Still, it remains a favorite among home gardeners and those seeking something different.
Mortgage Lifter
Mortgage Lifter is a legendary heirloom tomato with a history that dates back to the 1930s. It was bred by a man named M.C. Byles, who used the proceeds from selling the fruit to pay off his mortgage. The tomato itself is large, with meaty, dense flesh and a mild, sweet flavor that lacks the tartness of many modern varieties. It is well-known for its smooth texture, making it excellent for slicing and using in sandwiches or on burgers.
While it is often considered one of the sweetest-tasting heirlooms, it also has a subtle complexity that sets it apart from more mass-produced varieties. Mortgage Lifter is perfect for those who enjoy a rich, traditional tomato flavor with just enough sweetness to complement other ingredients in a dish. Despite its rich history, this variety is rarely seen in supermarkets, where flavor often takes a backseat to shelf life and consistency.
San Marzano
San Marzano tomatoes are an Italian heirloom variety that is well-known for its rich, deep flavor and slightly tangy profile. It is often used in Italian cooking, especially in sauces and pastes, due to its lower water content and fewer seeds compared to other types. The fruit has a bright red color and is elongated, making it easy to peel and cook down into a thick, flavorful sauce.
The taste is both sweet and acidic, with an earthy undertone that makes it perfect for slow-cooked dishes like marinara sauce, stews, or soups. While San Marzanos are widely praised for their culinary uses, they are harder to find in grocery stores due to their high cost of cultivation and specialized growing conditions. They are, however, a favorite among home gardeners who value flavor over convenience and shelf life.
Cherokee Purple
Cherokee Purple is an old-school tomato variety with a deep purple-brown color and a complex, sweet flavor. It is a beefsteak-type tomato known for its smooth texture and rich, juicy flesh. The taste is sweet with earthy undertones and a slight tang, making it one of the most popular heirloom tomatoes for eating fresh.
Cherokee Purple has a distinct, almost smoky flavor that sets it apart from modern supermarket tomatoes, which tend to be more acidic or bland. This variety thrives in warm climates and produces large, meaty fruits that are ideal for sandwiches, salads, and slicing. Due to its unique color and size, it is rarely found in supermarkets, where uniformity and durability take precedence over taste.
Pink Bumblebee
Pink Bumblebee is a small, cherry-sized tomato that is known for its vibrant pink and yellow streaked skin. The fruit has a burst of sweetness that balances well with its juicy, tender flesh. The Pink Bumblebee is a great option for snacking, as its small size and bold flavor make it a perfect addition to salads or for popping straight into your mouth.
It is a relatively rare variety, often cultivated in home gardens and farmers markets but not commonly found in grocery stores. Its flavor is a refreshing departure from the blandness of supermarket cherry tomatoes, making it a favorite for those who appreciate a more complex, sweet-tart flavor profile. This variety is perfect for growing in containers or smaller garden spaces due to its compact size and productivity.
Kellogg’s Breakfast
Kellogg’s Breakfast is a large, yellow-orange tomato with a smooth texture and a sweet, mild flavor. It is known for its low acidity and meaty flesh, making it perfect for slicing and using in sandwiches or burgers. The tomato’s flavor is sweet with subtle citrus notes, making it a great alternative to the more commonly found red tomatoes in the grocery store.
The Kellogg’s Breakfast variety is a reliable producer in the garden, and it tends to do well in various growing conditions. Despite its popularity among gardeners, it is not often seen in supermarkets, where tomatoes with longer shelf lives and more vibrant colors are prioritized. This tomato is ideal for anyone seeking a mild, sweet-flavored tomato that is versatile in the kitchen.
Aunt Ruby’s German Green
Aunt Ruby’s German Green is a large, green tomato that ripens to a yellow-green shade. It is known for its tart yet sweet flavor, which stands out when compared to many modern tomato varieties. The taste is tangy, with a hint of lemon and a slight herbaceous quality that makes it ideal for fresh salsas, salads, and sandwiches.
The flesh is firm and meaty, making it easy to slice and use in various dishes. Although it can be used in cooking, the true beauty of Aunt Ruby’s German Green is its ability to add a refreshing, complex flavor to raw dishes. This tomato is not widely available in supermarkets due to its non-standard color and shorter shelf life, but it remains a favorite among heirloom tomato enthusiasts.
Yellow Brandywine
Yellow Brandywine is a variant of the classic Brandywine tomato that has a golden-yellow hue. Its flavor is sweet and mild, with a smooth, almost buttery texture that makes it perfect for eating fresh. This variety is particularly favored for its balanced flavor, which lacks the acidity found in some red tomatoes.
Yellow Brandywine is great for anyone looking for a sweeter, less tangy tomato that can be used in salads, sandwiches, or simply sliced and enjoyed on its own. Like its pink counterpart, it is prone to cracking and requires careful handling, which is why it is not commonly found in supermarket produce aisles. Nevertheless, it remains a treasured variety for home gardeners who value flavor over shelf life.
Pink Girl
Pink Girl is a unique variety of tomato known for its soft pink color and smooth, almost creamy texture. The flavor is a delicate balance of sweetness with a hint of tartness, which makes it an ideal choice for fresh eating. It is smaller than other heirloom tomatoes, typically growing to the size of a medium-sized beefsteak tomato.
Pink Girl is prized for its versatility in dishes, working well in salsas, salads, and as a topping for sandwiches. Despite its appeal, it remains a rare find in grocery stores, as it does not fit the commercial standard of uniformity and shelf life. This tomato thrives in warm climates and is appreciated by gardeners for its consistent production of flavorful fruit.
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a striking heirloom tomato variety with yellow and red streaks across its round, fleshy fruit. Known for its large size and rich flavor, Hillbilly tomatoes have a sweet, fruity taste with just the right amount of acidity. The texture is meaty, making it perfect for slicing and using in sandwiches, salads, or as a topping for burgers.
This variety has a low seed count and a juicy interior, offering a complex flavor that is often described as one of the best-tasting heirlooms. It is particularly resistant to cracking and splits, making it a good choice for home gardeners. However, Hillbilly tomatoes are hard to find in supermarkets due to their irregular appearance and relatively short shelf life.
Striped German
Striped German is a beautiful heirloom variety with vibrant yellow and red stripes running across its smooth skin. It is a large, meaty tomato with a flavor that strikes a balance between sweetness and acidity, making it a versatile ingredient for a range of dishes. The fruit has a firm texture that holds up well to slicing and grilling, while also being juicy enough to be used in salads.
Striped German tomatoes are prized for their distinctive color and sweet-tart flavor, which make them stand out among other tomato varieties. While they grow well in home gardens, they are not typically found in supermarkets due to their irregular shape and relatively short shelf life.
Black Prince
Black Prince is a small, dark tomato variety with a rich, smoky flavor that sets it apart from the typical red tomatoes available in stores. Its deep brownish-purple skin is a sign of its bold, complex flavor, which is both sweet and tangy with earthy undertones. The flesh is dense and juicy, and it holds up well in both raw and cooked dishes.
Black Prince tomatoes are perfect for adding depth to salads or incorporating into salsas. Despite its popularity among home gardeners, it is not commonly found in supermarkets due to its unique appearance and shorter shelf life. This tomato thrives in a variety of climates and is often sought after by those who appreciate heirloom tomatoes with a deep, full-bodied taste.
Giant Belgium
Giant Belgium is an heirloom variety that lives up to its name, with massive fruit that can weigh up to 2 pounds or more. The tomatoes are known for their smooth, bright red skin and their mild, sweet flavor that is less acidic than many other varieties. The flesh is thick, meaty, and juicy, making it perfect for slicing and using in sandwiches, burgers, or fresh salads.
Giant Belgium is prized for its large size and rich flavor, but it is not typically seen in supermarkets due to its irregular shape and tendency to crack. Home gardeners who grow this variety often enjoy the rewards of large, flavorful fruit that are hard to find elsewhere. Despite its size, Giant Belgium is relatively easy to grow and produces fruit well into the summer months.
Red Calabash
Red Calabash is a lesser-known heirloom tomato that is native to the southeastern United States. It is a unique variety with a deep red color and an irregular, lobed shape. The flavor is sweet and tangy with an earthy quality, making it perfect for fresh dishes like salsas and salads. Red Calabash tomatoes have a rich history in Southern cooking, where they are prized for their distinctive taste and texture.
They are often used in cooking for their thick flesh and low moisture content, which makes them great for sauces. Due to their unusual appearance and relatively short shelf life, Red Calabash tomatoes are rarely found in supermarkets. However, they remain a favorite among heirloom enthusiasts who appreciate their old-school flavor.
Old German
Old German is a unique, heirloom tomato variety that features large, flattened, orange-yellow fruit with a rich, sweet flavor. The taste is sweet with just enough acidity to create a balanced and complex flavor profile. The texture is smooth and meaty, making it an ideal choice for slicing and using in fresh dishes.
Old German tomatoes have a low seed count, which gives them a smooth texture that is perfect for salads, sandwiches, or just eating fresh off the vine. This variety is resistant to cracking, making it more reliable than other heirlooms in the garden. Though it is not widely available in supermarkets, it remains a favorite among gardeners for its exceptional flavor and beauty.
This article originally appeared on Avocadu.