Tesco to Introduce New Sweet Gourmet Tomato

The Sugardrop is a stunning natural hybrid of two tomato varieties that has been created to appeal to people who may find ordinary tomatoes slightly sharp.

27 Nov 2009 --- A revolutionary new gourmet tomato that is as sweet as a peach is to go on sale tomorrow across the UK.

The Sugardrop is a stunning 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 an incredible 3000 different tomato types. It goes on sale this week.

Said Tesco tomato buyer Ashleigh McWilliams: “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.”

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 are not revealing which varieties were crossed to produce the Sugardrop as rival growers could then potentially copy it.

However they have been able to achieve sugar levels - or brix level to give it its scientific name – of 9-13 brix. A standard peach has a 9 brix level.

Added Tesco’s Ashleigh McWilliams: “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.”

Launched at the same time will be another high quality new variety called Moruno which has a complex, aromatic flavour that lingers for a while on the tastebuds.

It has very few seeds but thick, juicy fragrant flesh which melts easily in the mouth.

Both new tomato varieties are being sold as part of Tesco’s Finest food range. Each costs £1.50 for a 280g punnet.