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Tomatoes, which come from South America and belong to the nightshade family (Solanum lycopersicum), are a type of fruit. Tomatoes are grown in many parts of the world where winters are mild and summers are warm. Tomatoes come in many varieties; some of the best known are plum, tomberry, cherry, beefsteak and grape.
Tomatoes are low in calories and high in vitamin C and potassium. Tomatoes get their bright red colour from the antioxidant lycopene. Although it is classified as a fruit because of its botanical origin, it is more commonly used and prepared as a vegetable. Do you think it is more of a fruit or a vegetable?
What are some things you don't know about tomatoes?
1. Tomatoes are Botanically Classified as a Fruit.
According to botany, tomatoes are fruits because they develop from flowers and produce seeds that can be eaten. But in 1893, the US Supreme Court ruled that it should be classified as a vegetable because of its use in cooking. It is also a vegetable, according to nutritionists. Simply put, it is a fruit that is used like a vegetable.2. Tomatoes Come in Many Different Colours.
You know that tomatoes come in many colours other than red. They can be yellow, pink, purple, black or white. Because of quality standards, supermarkets usually only sell red tomatoes, but if you go to a farm shop or greengrocer, you may be able to find a wider range of colours.3. Tomatoes Were Once Thought to be Dangerous.
In the 1800s, European aristocrats ate from pewter plates that contained lead. People thought tomatoes were poisonous because their acidity brought out the poison and made them taste bad when eaten from these plates. That's why people in ancient theatres threw tomatoes at actors who were not doing a good job.4. More Than 40,000 People Take Part in The Tomato Fight Every Year.
La Tomatina is a festival in Spain that takes place every year on the last Wednesday in August in the town of Buol, in the province of Valencia. The festival is famous for the food fights that take place. La Tomatina is an annual festival that started as a street fight and has now spread around the world, destroying more than 150,000 tomatoes and painting the streets red.5. The Space Programme For Tomatoes
There have been tomatoes in space. The Tomatosphere I, Tomatosphere II, Tomatosphere III and Tomatosphere IV experiments sent 600,000 tomato seeds to the International Space Station and then grew them in classrooms across Canada. Scientists conducted these studies because they were interested in how going to space might affect how seeds grow on Earth.6. The Tomatoes Did Not Originate in Italy
The wild tomato, which came from Peru and had small fruits, was bred by the Aztecs around 700 AD to have larger fruits. The scientific name of the tomato, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, means "wolf peach". Its Aztec name, "plump thing with a navel", means the same.7. Tomatoes Are Healthy For Your Heart
Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, tomatoes have been linked to better heart and brain health. Tomatoes are high in potassium, which has been linked to lowering high blood pressure. This is the opposite of what you want to do to keep your heart healthy.What you thought you knew about tomatoes has probably changed a lot. Tell me what you think.
Do you think they look like fruit? Or a vegetable? Science tells us what fruit and vegetables are, but what we eat often pushes the boundaries of what we know to be fruit and vegetables.
Many plants that we eat as vegetables are actually fruits. But one thing we can all agree on is that a good tomato tastes like it has been in the sun all day.
What do you think? Was this information useful to you? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments down below.
Source: PlantTube
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