When most people think of fruits, they think of items like apples, oranges, and strawberries. But what about tomatoes? Individuals often classify tomatoes as vegetables because it’s what we eat in salads and sauces.
However, botanically speaking, tomatoes are a fruit. Tomatoes have seeds and fleshy pulp. Fruits are typically defined as the edible reproductive parts of a flowering plant, including the ovary, the seeds, and the surrounding succulent tissue.
When you cut into a tomato, you can see its ovary – which is why tomatoes are technically classified as fruits.
This blog post will explore why tomatoes are fruits and are so popular in the culinary world. Stay tuned for more information!
Where Are Tomatoes From Originally?
What came first, the chicken or the egg? This is a classic problem that has puzzled philosophers and laypeople for centuries. Another such question is: are tomatoes fruits or vegetables? Again, the answer may surprise you.
First, we’ll tell a bit about the history of tomatoes. They originated in South America, specifically between Peru and Mexico. Later, it became widely known in Europe after Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico in 1521 and brought them back to Spain.
Who first ate tomatoes?
The Inca Aztec people were the first to eat tomatoes. They used them in a variety of dishes, including sauces and stews.
The Aztec diet included other fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, and beans.
Tomato History Timeline
At first, Europeans were unsure what to make of this strange new fruit, and some thought it was poisonous.
Spain says, “No hay nada que hacer con un tomate que no sea comerlo,” which means, “There’s nothing to do with a tomato except eat it.”
Also, in Spain, people have the Tomatina festival, where people pelt each other with tomatoes in the streets! As you can see, this fruit has a long and storied history.
Tomatoes eventually made their way to other parts of Europe and the entire world. Today, tomatoes are grown in warm climates worldwide and are a staple in many cuisines.
It’s believed that tomatoes were introduced to China in the 16th century by Portuguese missionaries. From there, it spread to India and then to Southeast Asia. Now, tomatoes are cultivated worldwide and are a staple in many cuisines.
It wasn’t until the 18th century that tomatoes became widely popular in Europe, and they only became commonly used in cooking in the 19th century.
Who Introduced Tomatoes To The US?
The Spanish introduced the tomato to the United States in the 16th century. However, few people cultivated anything between 1790 and 1820. Cotton production was much more profitable during this time.
The first recorded use of tomatoes in the United States was in 1781 when they were grown as ornamental plants in gardens. However, it wasn’t until 1812 that people started to consume more tomatoes for culinary.
By the mid-19th century, tomatoes were grown commercially in New Jersey. By the early 20th century, they were produced all over the United States.
Tomatoes are an excellent food to eat fresh, used in cooking, or made into sauces and ketchup. They are an essential ingredient in many dishes, and their popularity has only grown recently.
What are the Different Types of Tomatoes?
Tomatoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be small, like cherry tomatoes, or significant, like beefsteak tomatoes.
They can be red, yellow, green, or even purple! So there are many different types of tomatoes that it’s impossible to list them all.
Some of the most popular types of tomatoes include:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Beefsteak tomatoes
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Plum tomatoes
If you think tomato sauce comes from Italy, you’re wrong! The first recorded recipe for tomato sauce was published in 1692 by English author John Evelyn.
The French were the first to use tomatoes in a salad, and the dish became known as “Salade des Tomates.”
What About Today?
Nowadays, tomatoes are widely used all over the world in a variety of dishes. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or as part of another dish.
Tomatoes are a popular ingredient in Italian cuisine in pasta sauce, pizza, and other dishes. Likewise, Spanish cuisine consumes this delicious fruit in many traditional dishes, such as gazpacho and paella.
In Portugal, people consume tomatoes to prepare stews and salads. As a result, it’s the country’s most cultivated vegetable (fruit).
Tomatoes are also commonly used in Indian cuisine, and they’re often cooked with spices to make a curry. In China, tomatoes are used in stir-fries and soups.
So, there you have it! Tomatoes are botanically classified as fruits, but they’re widely considered vegetables.
So, Why Are Tomatoes Commonly Referred To As Vegetables?
Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists. This is likely because of their culinary uses. For example, tomatoes are used in savory dishes rather than sweet ones.
They’re also generally eaten as part of the main course rather than as a dessert. However, botanically speaking, tomatoes are fruits!
What Are Tomatoes Classified?
Tomatoes are the world’s most popular fruit. They are red, round, and have juicy flesh used in all sorts of dishes. The French called the tomato “pomme d’amour,” “love apple,” or Peruvian apple.
The scientific name for tomatoes is Solanum Lycopersicum. The word “Lycopersicon” comes from the Greek words for “wolf peach.”
The Botanical Definition Of a fruit
Botanically, we classify tomatoes as fruits because they meet the botanical criteria for being a fruit. Fruits are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants that contain seeds.
The tomato plant is a herbaceous annual that belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Other members of this family include potatoes, aubergines, and peppers.
In other words, a fruit is any part of a plant that contains seeds and develops from a flower. With this definition in mind, it’s easy to see why tomatoes are considered fruits.
Tomatoes are the tomato plant’s ovaries, containing the plant’s seeds. Therefore, by definition, tomatoes are indeed fruits. So why are they commonly referred to as vegetables? The answer lies in their history and usage.
What Is The Difference Between a Fruit And a Vegetable?
Fruits are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants. They contain seeds that will grow new plants. Vegetables, on the other hand, are any edible part of a plant that is not classified as a fruit. This includes leaves, stems, and roots.
What Are Some Other Fruits like Tomatoes?
Tomatoes are not the only fruit that is commonly mistaken for a vegetable. Here are some other examples:
- Eggplant
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
- Squash
- Zucchini
When Did Supreme Court Decide a Tomato Was a Vegetable?
The transition from vegetable to fruit status occurred relatively recently in the tomato’s history. Until the late 1800s, tomatoes were classified as vegetables in the United States. However, this changed in 1893 when the Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes were to be considered taxes as “vegetables of the cucurbit family” for taxation purposes.
The ruling was based on the common understanding that tomatoes are used for savory dishes rather than sweet ones. Therefore, due to this ruling, tomatoes were taxed at a higher rate than other vegetables.
The decision to call tomatoes vegetables was overturned in 1901. Still, by that point, they had already become a regular part of the American diet. So, though they may technically be fruits, tomatoes will likely continue to be treated as vegetables in kitchens worldwide.
For centuries, tomatoes were grown for their ornamental value rather than culinary uses.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that tomatoes began to be used more frequently in cooking. Because they were used as vegetables rather than fruits, that’s how they came to be known.
These days, of course, we know that tomatoes can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. From pizza and pasta to pies and puddings, tomatoes are one of the most versatile ingredients. So next time you’re wondering whether to reach for the ketchup or marinara sauce, remember: they’re both made from fruits!
Who would have thought that such a humble ingredient could be so confusing? But now you know: tomatoes are fruits.
So next time you’re whipping up your favorite dish containing tomatoes, you can impress your friends and family with your new-found knowledge!
Thanks for reading!
