What Is the Difference Between the Many Tomato Varieties?

It is estimated that there are more than 2,500 tomato varieties – and the trend is rising. These tomato varieties are divided into two different types: stick tomatoes and vine tomatoes. The individual varieties then differ from each other in shape and color as well as in consistency and taste.

The stick tomato is the most commonly grown type of tomato in the world. This type owes its name to the type of growth: the single-shot plants grow strongly in height. As a result, they soon can no longer withstand the weight of the fruit and have to be supported with a stick. Vine tomatoes, also known as bush tomatoes, on the other hand, reach a significantly lower height than stick tomatoes. This does not necessarily have to be supported. However, vine tomatoes are not as productive as stake tomatoes and therefore make up a significantly smaller part of the total tomato harvest.

The most common tomato varieties include:

• Medium-sized, round tomatoes are still the classic in the tomato range. The fruits are orange to red and have a high proportion of seeds. Due to their subtle, slightly sour taste, they can be used on their own or in a wide variety of salads and vegetable dishes.
• Beefsteak tomatoes: The large red tomatoes weigh around 100 to 250 grams per fruit. Some subspecies can even weigh up to a kilogram. Beefsteak tomatoes have a lot of flesh and few seeds and are rather firm in consistency. Its taste is fresh and slightly acidic. They are also suitable both raw and cooked for many different dishes such as an aromatic tomato soup. Due to the high proportion of pulp, they are particularly suitable for sandwiches and burgers.
• Plum, egg, or romaine tomatoes are medium-sized and are characterized by their oval shape. They are also rich in pulp and come in red and green varieties. The tomato variety is usually very spicy and gives salads in particular an aromatic taste.
• Cocktail vine tomatoes, also known as cherry or cherry tomatoes, are particularly suitable as a snack between meals due to their small, bite-sized size. They are very sweet and juicy.
• Oxheart tomatoes are eye-catching because of their heart-shaped shape and bulky, furrowed skin. The orange-red tomatoes have thin skin, few seeds, and a lot of flesh. They have a delicate consistency and a fine taste, which is particularly good on their own or on sandwiches. The name of the ox heart tomato comes from the fact that the volume and weight of the fruit are actually similar to those of an ox heart.