Sauce Tomato Taste TestTime for an informal family tomato taste test. For over 10 years we have grown a wide variety of sauce tomatoes as a family project but we never did an individual tomato taste test. All of the varieties we grow are harvested, roasted and pureed in a random combination. The sauce always tasted great to us, however we realized that we had no idea how these varieties compared in taste. So in 2007, with nine different varieties of sauce tomato, we decided to find out. Our taste test was set up as follows: each plant was already labeled in the garden so we knew which tomato came from which plant. I printed up address labels with one variety on each label. Then I applied the labels to the tomatoes one by one as I picked a ripe tomato from each plant. The labels were then transferred to paper plates upon which each tomato was sliced up and tasted in its fresh form. Here are our 2007 results: Rated highest for flavor #1 -- Saucy (Territorial Seed Company)
#2 -- Big Mamma (Burpee)
#3 -- Oroma (Territorial Seed Company)
"Some" flavor: Ropreco Paste "No flavor, bland": VFA Roma, Martino, San Marzano, Sausage Other notes: "Heinz had flavor, but it wasn't a great tasting flavor" Beware! Not all taste buds are the same. This taste test only reveals our preferences, you may have a completely different experience. That's why I encourage anyone growing more than one variety of sauce tomato to perform your own taste test annually. That way you will be putting your gardening energy into a custom made tomato sauce that reflects your taste. Our test results will definitely affect the seed choices we make in the future. Watch this page for taste-testing updates added annually. In 2008, a roasted puree taste test will be included.
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