Tomatoes - Some Interesting Facts

Tomatoes

There's a point of no return when you're cooking tomatoes. A little too much heat, a little too long in the pot, and you lose that sense of fresh ripeness that makes tomatoes so great.     

Geoffrey Zakarian

One of my favourite Chinese dishes is the salted vegetable and tofu soup. The ingredients consist of ham choy, beancurd and of course a few tomatoes. When the soup is served I will go for the tomatoes. Here are some interesting facts about tomatoes: 

 1. China is the world’s largest tomato producer and exporter. 

2. There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes in terms of shapes. sizes and colours. 

3. The tomato is, botanically, a fruit. 

4. Tomatoes are a rich source of the antioxidant lycopene, the stuff that makes tomatoes red. It may lower the risk of a certain disease, including some cancers, heart disease and macular degenerative disease. Cooked tomatoes have higher concentrations of lycopene than fresh tomatoes. 

5. Tomatoes are also rich in fibre and vitamins A and C. They are cholesterol-free. An average-size tomato (around 150 gm) has only 27 calories.

Image source: https://www.britannica.com/story/is-a-tomato-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable