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 considered a "superfood" rich in anthocyanins, antioxidants found in blueberries.

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

According to the 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,” says 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 don’t really understand how they work in humans.”

Professor Myers said the difference between Indigo Rose and other dark 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 anthocyanins are 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, Myers said.

He advises growers not to pick too early, as the sugars and acids in the ripe 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. According to them, the Indigo Rose is a naturally bred, non-GMO variety with a delicious flavour.

"Some tomatoes are dark, but Indigo Rose is the only one that's jet black, and the only dark hybrid. It's not as sweet as a regular tomato, but it's more flavorful, and it's great grilled 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 1,200 VND per seed.

Sue Baic, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, said that black tomatoes have the same benefits as other dark-coloured fruits such as cabbage, plums, grapes and berries. Therefore, "it is important to eat a variety of colours, not to be picky about eating only one colour."

According to VnExpress