Tomatoes-Tips
The tomato first came to Greece in 1818, an important year for Greek habits.
The Greek tomato, that began to be cultivated systematically from 1925, is unbeatable in flavour, aroma, but also appearance and that is because the Greek land is the most appropriate to thrive. The Greek varieties are special and the most important is that they are the best worldwide. The Greek tomatoes are “absorbed” by Finland, where we are the 2nd suppliers of the country with a share of 20.1% in their imports, by England with 13.2% where we are ranked 4th, by the Netherlands with 10.1% and we are the 3rd suppliers, while in Poland the Greek tomatoes are in 5th place of import with 6.2%.
The Brauron tomato is a traditional Greek variety that produces tomatoes of large and irregular shape. With an unusual name, the Heart of the Buffalo variety gives tomatoes very large, with not such an intense red colour, and with a shape of a buffalo’s heart which is where it got its name from. One of the most widespread in the Mediterranean is also the Ace 55 variety which produce tomatoes of medium size, with an intense red colour, thin skin and sweet flavour. The tomato Aravissos Gianitson is one of the oldest that is cultivated in Asia Minor and it comes with a thick skin and intense flavour. The tomato from Agía Larisas is small in size, has a rich aroma but also flavour, while the variety from Messinia is called the tomato-apple, due to its shape and is characterised by its size which can reach 900g. Also famous is the tomato from Crete that has a large size and full flavour, while for the first time in 2012, the black tomato was cultivated on the island.
The waterless tomatoes of Santorini classified as traditional Greek products and with designation of origin (PDO).
Nutrition-wise, the tomato contains vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that strengthen the immune system protecting it from cancer, regulate blood sugar, help lower cholesterol and strengthen bones.
It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, potassium and manganese. Also, it is very rich in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and beta-carotene.
It has a strong antioxidant activity, mainly due to its high content in lycopene.In conclusion it is an excellent option because it gives few calories and is rich in beneficial health nutrients.