Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes are simply unripe Red tomatoes that are harvested at an early point in their growth. It has light to dark lime green skin and is extremely firm. The flesh is bright chartreuse and has a very firm center with tiny, underdeveloped seeds. The Green tomato has a similar flavor to the ripe Red tomato, but is less mature and has a light sweet savor. Green tomatoes offer a crisp and mildly juicy texture. They have a sharp, puckering, astringent flavor with a slight sweetness.

Seasons/Availability

Green tomatoes are available year-round with a peak season in the summer and fall months.

Current Facts

Green tomatoes were famously re-introduced to the culinary scene after the release of the early 1990s movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, based on the book by Fannie Flagg. They are the immature or unripe fruits of any variety of tomato and are botanically classified as Solanum lycopersicum or Lycopersicon esculentum. Green tomatoes are generally sourced from the large “slicer” type tomatoes since they are easier to use than smaller cultivars. Although farmer’s markets and specialty stores may carry other varieties of Green tomatoes.

Nutritional Value

Its contain antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, phosphorous, and other minerals. Green tomatoes also contain all the essential B-complex vitamins.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Despite its reputation as a staple of southern cuisine, the green tomato’s modern use in the kitchen seems to have originated in the Midwestern United States.  Its remained popular throughout the first half of the 20th century, after which their use began to decline. Their popularity surged again after the release of the film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ in 1991 and they’ve continued to appear on menus and at farmer’s markets around the country.

Geography/History

Tomatoes, like their botanical cousin, the potato, originated in the South American Andes. They were first cultivated around 700 C.E. in South and Central America by the Mayans and Incas. After their arrival in the 15th century, Spanish conquistadores brought tomato seeds back to Europe, where the French called it “the apple of love” and Germans named it “the apple of paradise.” Despite its use and admiration in Europe, it wasn’t until Thomas Jefferson began growing the fruit as a food crop at his Monticello estate that the tomato began showing up in the American kitchen. Today tomatoes are the world’s most consumed fruit before bananas and watermelons.

Where Can You Buy Green Tomato From

As discussed earlier, They are not very common around the world. However, you can still enjoy this amazing fruit throughout in UAE. For that, you need to contact Freshleaf. As Freshleaf is all committed to delivering a complete range of fresh & healthy, fruits and vegetables, those too at the most comparative prices.