A new tomato variety has been dubbed the “strawmato”, because it resembles the fruit and can be dipped in chocolate.

M&S told the Independent that the hybrid variety will be on its shelves in the near future, as part of a new influx of “designer tomatoes”, which aim to rejuvenate the taste buds of UK consumers. M&S for instance, will be selling green and red striped you guessed it, “zebra”tomatoes and a sweet green type that has the dubious distinction of being labelled “ugly”.

Peter Ireland, M&S’s fruit buyer told the Inde: “People are getting more adventurous and want to try different varieties of tomato. They want tomatoes which look unusual or exciting to put in the salad bowl. The strawberry tomato looks fantastic and it also has a great taste.”

The variety was bred by Melrow Salads, in Lancashire, and the breeders are unsure as yet when it will hit the shelves in M&S. Development executive Bernard Sparkes was reported as saying: “We are not letting it out until we are quite satisfied. We expect it to be on the shelves within a year, but it might be two years. And I think we will be calling it the strawmato.”

He also told the newspaper that the raft of new M&S varieties would “Knock the socks off consumers”. Tomato Growers Association chairman Gerry Hayman pronounced himself unsure of the merits of dipping tomatoes in chocolate, calling it “an acquired taste”.

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