Heavenly Love Apples- Tomatoes

When Columbus returned from exploring America in 1500, he bought with him two apples: Earth apples which became potatoes and love apples which became tomatoes. Whilst Potatoes were successful straight away in Britain, the aromatic and slightly sweet taste of tomatoes was unpopular in most of Europe except Spain and because of the red colour were thought to be poisonous. 

Tomatoes were of Mexican origin. The Aztec name of Tomatl was adopted which changed to tomate. They were attributed to having aphrodisiac properties, so possibly for passionate Spaniards this was part of the attraction.

It is inconceivable to think of Spanish cuisine without tomatoes. All shapes and sizes are used: bush tomatoes from the coastline, vine tomatoes, beef tomatoes and yellow ramellet tomatoes. These are used in salads, passata, sauces, juices, cooked in many stews and preserved.  Ramellet tomatoes are dry- cultivated by hanging on strings in kitchens and larders, which is a tradition passed from mother to daughter.

 In Majorca, in 1840, when the vine pest destroyed the vines, tomatoes were cultivated instead as they were perfect to grow in the soil and sun-drenched climate giving economic survival. As well as being rich in Vitamin C, tomatoes contain beta-carotene which enables vitamin A, and this may also have added health benefits to the Mediterranean diet. When I lived in Spain for a short time picking tomatoes of the vine and eating them straight away was wonderful, the scent and flavour was amazing.

Ramullet tomatoes are the key ingredient in many popular dishes like Pa amb oli (In Catalonia this is Pa amb tomaquet) and Tumbet. They are also a conservation variety and in August, a festival is held to honour them. Tomatiga de Ramellet in Maria de la salut, in Majorca, is a night of tomato- related gastronomy.

Today in the UK we can now see the benefits to tomatoes that our ancestors didn’t. I think that British food has in the past been bland and the use of tomatoes does add richness, colour and flavour to our diet.