Taste Testing Cherry Tomatoes from My Garden
Tiny tomatoes, big opinions, and a garden pasta recipe you'll crave all summer long
The Taste of Summer
The refreshing and distinctly sweet and tangy taste of a juicy, sun-ripened backyard tomato, transports me to summers on the lake and my childhood garden.
Growing up, we had a backyard full of Cherokee Purples and German Johnsons and I was responsible for picking them and helping my mom can them for a taste of summer in the middle of winter. Tomatoes are the flavor of summer in the same way pumpkin defines the fall or gingerbread marks winters arrival.
The cherry tomato began its rise to supermarket fame in the 19070s by Marks & Spencer, a British luxury retailer and grocer. They were trying to find a commercialized tomato that actually tasted good. Cherry tomatoes had been used more as a garnish until this rise and have continued to grow in popularity in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. I’m always grabbing a container of those little flavor bombs at the grocery store.
Growing your own cherry tomato increases your odds of enjoying a tasty fruit. Grocery store tomatoes often have a bad reputation they are bred to withstand transportation and resist pests, not so much for flavor.
As it is my most consumed ingredient, I figured why not explore the passion by growing my own and find the perfect varietals?
Cherry Tomato Taste-Off
Last year I grew only one variety, the Super Sweet 100s. I grew them from seed and fondly remember transplanting those tiny, 2-inch single-stem babies into the soil, unsure if they would ever grow tall, let alone produce fruit. But it’s true with some water, sunshine and a lot of patience, you can have a very successful garden.
The harvest continued for months and inspired many recipes. This year I knew I wanted to expand my tomato knowledge and grow many varieties and with it a mission to find my favorites.
I enjoyed feeling like a kid again, conducting a science fair experiment. From researching the varieties, planting the seedlings, transferring them to the garden, trellising the growing vines, to harvesting the little grape sized bold-colored cherry tomatoes: it was nostalgic. I sliced each one in half and tasted them with and without salt, then documented my observations.
The Results
The Super Sweet 100s, Sweeties and Gold Nuggets (surprise star of the show) came out on top. They stood out in high yield, great taste and perfect texture. I will definitely continue to grow these in my gardens to come. I now know which ones are best for snacking and salads and which ones are best for roasting.
The Chocolate Sprinkles will be under further review as the season progresses and I will be looking for a new dark, brownish cherry tomato for a permanent spot in my forever garden. The season is in full swing and I will continue to savor these little inspirations as long as the summer gods allow.
10 Ways to Enjoy Cherry Tomatoes
Sliced in half and salted with garden fresh basil and mozzarella balls marinated in quality extra virgin olive oil and an Italian spice blend, a Caprese salad dream
Slow roasted in the oven with a whole head of garlic and a sprig of rosemary, slathered in olive oil. Served on top of a butter toasted piece of sourdough
In a homemade salsa made with quartered cherry tomatoes and chopped cilantro, onion and jalapeño served with crispy warm tortilla chips
On a toasted English muffin breakfast sandwich accompanied by light and fluffy scrambled eggs and mayo
Atop a cool, crispy tomato martini on disco ball skewer with two green olives
Stuffed in a rainbow trout fillet with lemon and any garden herbs you have on hand like thyme and oregano and roasted to perfection
Cooked down in a pot on the stove to create a spreadable, savory jam, tomato confit concoction, perfect for any charcuterie board
Roasted with onion, garlic, capers, lemon and oregano with a piece of Atlantic salmon and served on top of couscous with parsley
At home green juice: a handful of cherry tomatoes, a half cucumber, half a bunch of parsley, three handfuls of spinach, water and a pinch of salt fully blended
Straight off the vine, perfectly poppable!
Yum - my tomatoes still work in progress but I’ve gained a new love of tomatoes - specifically cherry tomatoes.