I have been gardening for most of my adult life and my favorite thing to grow has always been tomatoes. A few years ago I began playing with heirloom tomatoes that ripen in colors other than red. I've always known there were yellow tomatoes and orange tomatoes, and last year I discovered black tomatoes and tomatoes that stay green when ripe. This year's new tomato color is White. This Spring when I wrote about the whitest of white tomatoes called White Tomesol there was quite a bit of interest. I think I even helped Baker Creek Seeds sell out of them. Not many places sell these seeds but I was still able to get some. I grew White Tomesol and Great White this year, and they are indeed pretty white.
As usual when I try a new color of tomato, I'm never quite sure when to pick them. I think I harvested some of them a bit early because when sliced they still had a bit of green color to them.
The flavor seems to be the same no matter how ripe they are. So what about the flavor? A little different from "red" tomatoes but not as unusual as I expected. The seed catalogs tout them as tropical tasting. I expected these white tomatoes to taste more like melon than the Kentucky Beefsteaks. Here's the odd thing; eating a whole white tomato slice tastes pretty much like a tomato, but if I take a bite out of the meaty part only - that is where the unique taste occurs. It took me a while to figure this out. Take away the gel and seed part and the meaty tomato part tastes kind of nutty and not at all like a tomato. As an entire package however, you are back to tasting like a tomato. strange.
There isn't a big difference in taste between White Tomesol and Great White, but the color of Great White is a bit more of a cream color.
If you are looking for a true white color tomato, White Tomesol is the one for you.
As for me and my family, the verdict is still out for whether or not we want to add white tomatoes to our permanent list. They are pretty cool and a great novelty, but maybe just maybe they are a little too weird for even me. After eating a few more it is possible that they will win me over. We'll see.
Do you think white tomatoes are too weird? Have you ever eaten one? I'm sure there is a better description of the flavor than I have given. I'd love to know what everyone thinks!
Marc - I've been waiting all summer for this post! My white tomato seedlings bit the dust in a wind versus seedling tragedy so I never got to grow my "white wonders". These things look so weird I just don't know if I can do it! I have this aversion to the white-ish part of the inside of red tomatoes which is usually only present when they are not fully ripe. Therefore I tend to only eat the ends of the grocery store tomatoes.(I get this from my father) And these white tomatoes remind me of an entire tomato made of the part that I hate. Thanks for sharing! These are really cool lookin.
Posted by: September 14, 2008 at 03:12 PM
What color would a spaghetti sauce end up being if you used the whitest ones you grew?
Posted by: September 14, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Too cool for words. If they tasted like tomatoes, I might give it a try. Very interesting! Jen
Posted by: September 14, 2008 at 05:44 PM
I grew a white heirloom cherry tomato this year called White Rabbit and it was quite astonishing. Huge crop of small pale creamy yellow fruit that did not taste like tomatoes really they were deliciously exotic and fruity. Lovely in salads and kids love them - better than sweets said my friends little boy.
Posted by: Laura | September 16, 2008 at 03:05 PM
You grow so many kinds of awesome tomatoes. I have to grow most of mine inside... but someday I'm going to do something like this.You're a great inspiration!How does the taste compare on those white ones?
Posted by: September 20, 2008 at 02:40 AM
I am so lucky to have stubbled up your site. You have an amazing garden.
Posted by: September 21, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I've been garden blog surfing.I guess that's what you call it.Anyway came across your blog.We love heirloom tomatoes !!No comparison to those hybrids.Never grew "white tomesol".Have to check back with you later.
Posted by: September 28, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Fascinating stuff! There are just so many thousands of tomato varieties out there, it's great to see others trying them for me! Taste is paramount in my book. What do the black ones taste like?
Posted by: October 01, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I planted Great White tomatoes this year; live in the Midwest. The flower buds however are falling off and there is not visible fruit on the plant. The foliage looks healthy; but no fruit. I would appreciate any help you can offer.
Posted by: Nancy Thomas | July 08, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I've never seen anything like those white tomatoes before! Are they more cold-tolerant than red varieties, or do they like the same conditions? *curious*
Posted by: Daharja | August 05, 2009 at 08:06 PM