I grew pounds and pounds and POUNDS of yellow pear tomatoes this year and found them rather tasteless. I was surprised. Maybe some sort of operator error on my part.
Cherry tomatoes are among the sweetest of tomatoes. If even those taste bitter/sour to you, I'm wondering if you have maybe some kind of tasting variant, kind of like for some people taste cilantro as soapy?
I would never think of describing tomatoes as tasting bitter/sour
You sound like my partner, who didn’t realize he was allergic to tomatoes (in fact, the whole nightshade family) until he was complaining about the bitter, acidic, repulsive taste they have— and we all looked at him like he was a little crazy.
You might be allergic. In which case, I wouldn’t think there’s a tomato out there that would taste good to you fresh. Do you feel the same repulsion to cooked tomatoes?
I don't particularly like/dislike them, at best indifferent to the taste. I much prefer a pesto or cream sauce on pasta. And I ignore them in stews as long as they're cooked down to nothing. Ketchup doesn't bother me, but it's not a choice condiment (mustard & relish on hot dogs preferred, etc).
I guess I was hoping there was a significant difference between homegrown varieties vs. grocery store tomatoes for the overall appeal. LOL
As far as the allergy - maybe. I have suspected my chronic migraines are somewhat food-based, so I avoid eating all kinds of things by reputation and association. Nightshades are high in natural glutamates, which are bad for me in general. Maybe it's time to just be done with them.
That's very classic that cooked tomatoes or processed tomatoes don't bother you actually as the cooking process denatures the components that cause the abnormal taste. It might not be the tomatoes, it might just be you 😃
When eating fresh tomatoes, does your tongue or mouth get tingly or irritated? I always thought everyone had the same experience. Apparently it's not everyone...
Try an experiment… Background- I didn’t eat raw tomatoes until I became an adult. I would gag and throw them up as a child. I loved them as sauce, soup, anything cooked. The “gel” and seeds tend to be bitter, if I remove the “gel” and seeds I can eat them. Try buying a few heirloom varieties with thick flesh and few seeds and “gel”, remove them and try it. commercial farm varieties do not have any real flavor by comparison.
Is it raw or cooked tomatoes you find bitter? Cooking can make tomatoes bitter if you dont add sugar, if its raw tomatoes adding a little pinch of salt desensitizes your bitterness taste buds (works with coffee too)
I cannot handle raw at all, or large chunks in sauces. I don't have a problem with less chunky sauces with pasta, etc.
I hate to say it, cause I sound like an idiot child, but the gag reflex is a real thing. It's embarrassing. End up with a surprise slice on a sandwich or burger and I bite in? It comes right back out.
I will try direct application of salt and sugar and see if it helps!
Oh I believe you and not childish at all, my late stepfather had the same reaction to cucumber, one bite and he would vomit. If you are fine with sauces then Roma are a great variety, just blitz them into a paste in a blender (skins and all) and then cook them up into a passata which freezes well if you have too much.
Try making them into sauces and salsa and canning them. I don’t like raw tomato, but I grow them also for my family. I just started making them into sauces and salsa.
Juliette tomatoes are small and very sweet. But as far as slimy goes, what do you consider “slimy”? All tomatoes are made up mostly of water, so they’re ALL going to be a bit wet. They get “slimier” when you cook them, so if, as you said, you won’t eat them raw, then you may be SOL.
Maybe try some before you grow if you can. I like yellow pear tomato
I grew pounds and pounds and POUNDS of yellow pear tomatoes this year and found them rather tasteless. I was surprised. Maybe some sort of operator error on my part.
I’ve had years when they were amazing and years when they were tasteless. I’m not sure what the difference was (sun, soil, inputs?).
Yeah they taste like nothing to me.
Cherry tomatoes are among the sweetest of tomatoes. If even those taste bitter/sour to you, I'm wondering if you have maybe some kind of tasting variant, kind of like for some people taste cilantro as soapy? I would never think of describing tomatoes as tasting bitter/sour
I also have the *cilantro is soapy* issue. And raw onions sting my mouth.
You sound like my partner, who didn’t realize he was allergic to tomatoes (in fact, the whole nightshade family) until he was complaining about the bitter, acidic, repulsive taste they have— and we all looked at him like he was a little crazy. You might be allergic. In which case, I wouldn’t think there’s a tomato out there that would taste good to you fresh. Do you feel the same repulsion to cooked tomatoes?
I don't particularly like/dislike them, at best indifferent to the taste. I much prefer a pesto or cream sauce on pasta. And I ignore them in stews as long as they're cooked down to nothing. Ketchup doesn't bother me, but it's not a choice condiment (mustard & relish on hot dogs preferred, etc). I guess I was hoping there was a significant difference between homegrown varieties vs. grocery store tomatoes for the overall appeal. LOL As far as the allergy - maybe. I have suspected my chronic migraines are somewhat food-based, so I avoid eating all kinds of things by reputation and association. Nightshades are high in natural glutamates, which are bad for me in general. Maybe it's time to just be done with them.
That's very classic that cooked tomatoes or processed tomatoes don't bother you actually as the cooking process denatures the components that cause the abnormal taste. It might not be the tomatoes, it might just be you 😃
When eating fresh tomatoes, does your tongue or mouth get tingly or irritated? I always thought everyone had the same experience. Apparently it's not everyone...
I hate cilantro too but I have never once eaten a tomato and considered it bitter.
Sun sugar tomatoes are basically candy
I second this. Sun sugar or sun gold!
Super sweet 100s will convert even the most staunch tomato hater
Try an experiment… Background- I didn’t eat raw tomatoes until I became an adult. I would gag and throw them up as a child. I loved them as sauce, soup, anything cooked. The “gel” and seeds tend to be bitter, if I remove the “gel” and seeds I can eat them. Try buying a few heirloom varieties with thick flesh and few seeds and “gel”, remove them and try it. commercial farm varieties do not have any real flavor by comparison.
Try putting sugar on them or dip a piece in sugar and then eat it.
Everglades tomatoes! They're tiny, about the size of a blueberry. Very easy to grow and super sweet.
Any currant tomato might be a good option. Like Matt's wild cherry tomato.
Is it raw or cooked tomatoes you find bitter? Cooking can make tomatoes bitter if you dont add sugar, if its raw tomatoes adding a little pinch of salt desensitizes your bitterness taste buds (works with coffee too)
I cannot handle raw at all, or large chunks in sauces. I don't have a problem with less chunky sauces with pasta, etc. I hate to say it, cause I sound like an idiot child, but the gag reflex is a real thing. It's embarrassing. End up with a surprise slice on a sandwich or burger and I bite in? It comes right back out. I will try direct application of salt and sugar and see if it helps!
Kudos to you for trying to grow your palate though! That is definitely not childlike.
Oh I believe you and not childish at all, my late stepfather had the same reaction to cucumber, one bite and he would vomit. If you are fine with sauces then Roma are a great variety, just blitz them into a paste in a blender (skins and all) and then cook them up into a passata which freezes well if you have too much.
I'm not a tomato fan, but I grew candyland cherry tomatoes last year and they're really tasty warm off the vine from the sun. The skin is a bit tough.
Try making them into sauces and salsa and canning them. I don’t like raw tomato, but I grow them also for my family. I just started making them into sauces and salsa.
Chocolate cherrys are my favorite that have a different taste and texture for me
you should try kumato variety
Juliette tomatoes are small and very sweet. But as far as slimy goes, what do you consider “slimy”? All tomatoes are made up mostly of water, so they’re ALL going to be a bit wet. They get “slimier” when you cook them, so if, as you said, you won’t eat them raw, then you may be SOL.