5 Things You Didn’t Know About Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a favourite of many of our customers at Anat, and it is regularly added to shwarmas and wraps every day. We have shared some insight on the health benefits of tomatoes before, and we now want to share some fun facts about tomatoes that you didn’t know.

Tomatoes Originated in the Andes

Despite many people thinking tomatoes were first grown and eaten in Italy, they actually originated in the Andes. Tomatoes were first cultivated and enjoyed by the Incas and Aztecs and they date back as early as 700 AD. The first variety of tomatoes grown were not actually red. They were yellow, and small, which is most likely why they were given the name pomi d’oro by the Italians when they were first brought to Europe. This translates to ‘yellow apples. ‘

Tomatoes Shouldn’t Be Stored in the Fridge

It is commonly believed that in order to keep your tomatoes fresh, you need to store them in the fridge as you would with most other fruits and vegetables. This is not in fact true. The cold air tomatoes are exposed to when kept in the fridge actually stops them from ripening. This ripening process is what gives them their delicious flavour. This may come as a surprise, but by keeping your tomatoes in the fridge, they are also more likely to become squishy, and the membrane of their skin is affected.

Tomatoes Were Once Believed to Be Poisonous

The Smithsonian Magazine tells that some Europeans in the 1700s believed that tomatoes were poisonous. This is because some people were getting sick and even dying after eating them. It was later discovered that it was the lead in the pewter plates used that was reacting with the highly acidic tomatoes, and causing people to become ill, and in some cases die from lead poisoning.

Tomatoes Can Clear Up Blemishes

You may never have associated tomatoes with skin care, but the acid in tomatoes and the pulp can be used to help clear up blemishes on your skin. Applying tomato pulp to your skin can also help reduce the oiliness of your skin.

Tomato, or “wolf peach”?

Lycopersicon lycopersicum is the scientific name for tomato, and it translates into ‘wolf peach.’ We think this is quite a fitting name for tomatoes!

We pride ourselves in using beautiful, fresh tomatoes of the highest quality at Anat. Don’t forget to add some to your meal next time you visit us!