Black tomatoes are rich in antioxidants

Black tomatoes are a cross between red and purple tomatoes, have black skin and red-purple flesh, and are said to be a "superfood" rich in anthocyanin, an antioxidant found in blueberries.

Black tomatoes have black skin and red flesh. Photo: SWNS

According to Telegraph, the black tomato variety was researched and bred by Professor Jim Myers, University of Oregon, USA since 2012. He and his colleagues discovered that purple tomatoes are rich in anthocyanin, a coloring and antioxidant found in blueberries. Anthocyanin is an effective treatment for diabetes and obesity. They crossbred purple tomatoes and natural red tomatoes, creating a new black tomato variety called Indigo Rose.

"This is the first tomato strain that contains antioxidants," said Professor Myers. "This breeding will help us better understand the antioxidants in tomatoes, and their impact on human health. Antioxidants have many health benefits for humans, but they are still in the experimental stage. We still don't really understand how they affect humans."

Professor Myers said the difference between Indigo Rose and other dark-colored tomato varieties lies in the genetics. During growth, like other fruits, Indigo Rose is green.

It only turns black when exposed to sunlight. That's because anthocyanin is only produced when the surface of the fruit is illuminated. "If you put Indigo Rose in a place without UV light, it will turn purple in a week," says Myers.

He and his colleagues developed the tomato because tomatoes are the fourth most consumed vegetable in the United States, after potatoes, lettuce, and onions. People eat tomatoes every day, more than other anthocyanin-rich fruits like blueberries, Professor Myers said.

He advises growers not to pick too early, as the sugars and acids in vine-ripened fruit are higher. Typically, a crop of Indigo Rose tomatoes in Oregon takes 91 days to grow.

Last year, the Sutton Seed Company began selling the black tomato in the UK. They say the Indigo Rose is a naturally bred, non-GMO variety with a delicious taste.

“Some tomato varieties are dark, but Indigo Rose is the only one that is jet black, and the only dark hybrid. It's not as sweet as a regular tomato, but it's more flavorful, and can be roasted or eaten raw,” says Alfie Jackson, assistant product manager at Sutton.

Sutton sells a pot of three tomato plants for about $15. American organic seed company High Mowing sells a bag of 500 Indigo Rose tomato seeds for $28, or 0.60 cents per seed.

Sue Baic, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association, said that black tomatoes have the same benefits as other dark fruits such as cabbage, plums, grapes and berries. Therefore, "it is important to use foods with a variety of colors, not to be picky about eating only one color."

According to VnExpress