A revolutionary new gourmet tomato that is “as sweet as a peach” is to go on sale in Tesco stores across the UK.
The Sugardrop is a natural hybrid of two tomato varieties that has been created to appeal to people who may find ordinary tomatoes slightly sharp.
The variety, which has been developed exclusively for Tesco, is the result of two years of trials involving more than 3,000 different tomato types. It goes on sale this week.
The Sugardrop is grown on the Costa Calida, in Murcia, south-west Spain, and has been created by dedicated Tesco grower Paloma.
Due to the highly competitive world tomato market, Paloma is not revealing which varieties were crossed to produce the Sugardrop, as rival growers could then potentially copy it.
Paloma has been able to create a brix level between nine and 13, with the standard peach returning a brix level of around nine.
The product's season will last until around April and Tesco is currently in the process of planning summer production so that it can make the line 52 weeks a year. TIt plans to stock around 2000-3000 cases per week.
Tesco tomato buyer Ashleigh McWilliams told FPJ: "These tomatoes totally revolutionise the flavour characteristics of the Tesco Finest Tomato range; and offer customers unique and exciting exclusive varieties unlike anything else available on the high street.
"We will be looking in future to promote alongside the entire Finest Tomato range, and there is always the possibility to link with other products in the future .
“A few years ago we sat down with our suppliers and asked them to find us a high-quality tomato that would appeal to gourmets with a sweet tooth.
“It was the beginning of major research that involved our growers contacting all the major seed houses in the world in order to find varieties that they could cross-pollinate to find a tomato with higher-than-normal sugar levels.
“The result is the Sugardrop, which is the sweetest tomato there has ever been, and now this week UK shoppers will be the first to try it.
“As tomatoes are so healthy we’re hoping that the added sweetness of the Sugardrop will also appeal to children who might otherwise turn their noses up at them.”
Another new variety, Moruno, grown in the same location in larger volumes, has been simultaneously launched
The retailer claims it has a “complex, aromatic flavour” with few seeds and thick flesh.
Both new tomato varieties are being sold as part of Tesco’s Finest food range. Each costs £1.50 for a 280g punnet.
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