Tomatoes are a kitchen staple, but did you know they’re packed with surprising stories and intriguing facts?
Here are 15 weird and interesting things about tomatoes that will make you appreciate them even more.
1. Tomatoes Are Fruits
Botanically, tomatoes are classified as fruits because they develop from the ovary of a flower and contain seeds. That’s right—they’re technically berries!
2. The World’s Messiest Food Fight
Every year in Buñol, Spain, tens of thousands of people gather to hurl overripe tomatoes at each other during La Tomatina. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it’s one way to show your love—or maybe your frustration—for this juicy fruit.
3. 10,000 Shades of Tomato
Believe it or not, there are over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes, spanning every color you can think of—red, yellow, green, purple, even black. Ever heard of the ‘Blue Beauty’? It’s a stunning dark purple, almost black, and it tastes as dramatic as it looks. Each type has its own vibe, so pick your tomato like you pick your outfit—carefully.
4. Ancient Aztec Superfood
Tomatoes hail from the Andes region of South America, but it was the Aztecs in Mexico who first cultivated them around 500 BC. They even used tomatoes in their cooking long before anyone else did. Imagine discovering the base of pizza sauce centuries before pizza was even a thing. Now that’s foresight.
5. The Great Tomato Debate
In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes should be classified as vegetables for tariff purposes, despite their botanical classification as fruits. This case, known as Nix v. Hedden, highlighted the ongoing debate about how to classify tomatoes.
6. The Tomato Space Race
In 1984, tomato seeds hitched a ride on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Not only did they sprout, but they also produced ripe tomatoes—officially making tomatoes the first “space veggies.” Talk about out-of-this-world flavor.
7. Ohio’s Odd Obsession with Tomato Juice
Ohio went all in and named tomato juice its official state beverage. It’s a quirky move, but hey, when life gives you tomatoes, make juice—then make it official. Meanwhile, New Jersey claims tomatoes as its state vegetable. It’s a tomato turf war you never knew existed.
8. The Godzilla of Tomatoes
The heaviest tomato ever weighed in at a jaw-dropping 8.61 pounds. That’s like carrying a newborn baby, except this one’s perfect for a monstrous batch of salsa. And yes, this record-breaking behemoth was grown in the U.S. in 2022. America, land of the free and home of the giant tomatoes.
9. Keep Your Tomato Plants for Show, Not Snacks
Tomato leaves and stems are toxic—like, make-you-very-sick toxic. They contain solanine, a substance that’s great at defending the plant but not so great for your stomach. So, stick to the fruit, folks, unless you want an unplanned visit to the ER.
10. Lycopene: The Tomato’s Secret Weapon
Tomatoes are packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that not only gives them their signature red color but also helps fight off cancer and heart disease. The darker the tomato, the more lycopene it packs—so go bold or go home.
11. The Ultimate Chameleon of the Kitchen
From raw in salads to cooked in sauces or dried as snacks, tomatoes can do it all. They’re the MVP of global cuisines—whether they’re starring in Italian pasta sauces, Mexican salsas, or a good ol’ BLT. You can count on tomatoes to bring the flavor, every time.
12. The Great Space Tomato Saga
NASA couldn’t get enough of tomatoes either. They’ve grown tomato seedlings in space as part of their experiments on plant growth in microgravity. These aren’t just any tomatoes; they’re cosmic tomatoes with intergalactic street cred.
13. Tomatoes as Fashion Icons?
Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, people didn’t eat tomatoes—they decorated their gardens with them. Why? Because they thought tomatoes were poisonous, thanks to their family ties with the deadly nightshade. It wasn’t until later that people figured out they were delicious instead of deadly.
14. How to Store Your Tomatoes Like a Pro
Tomatoes should be stored stem-side up on the counter, not in the fridge. Cold temps can mess with their flavor and texture, turning a juicy tomato into a sad, mealy one. Treat your tomatoes right, and they’ll reward you with the taste of summer.
15. Tomato Consumption
The average American eats about 24 pounds of tomatoes each year. That’s a whole lot of ketchup, salsa, and pasta sauce. So, the next time you reach for a tomato, know that you’re part of a long tradition of tomato lovers across the country.
From their ancient roots to their space travels, tomatoes are much more than just a salad topping.
Share these juicy tomato facts with friends, and savor your next bite with newfound knowledge!