Fruit or vegetable, Italy’s most popular produce is having a moment. The tomato — a crop truly native to the Andes region and not Emilia-Romagna — is responsible for TikTok’s latest aesthetic trend: Tomato Girl Summer. Gone are Corn Kid and charcuterie boards, a photo posted by Billie Elish launched a new obsession taken straight from the Amalfi Coast.
Tomato Girls harness all the joys of a carefree summer: floating through farmers markets with long skirts and kitschy tote bags, sporting handkerchiefs as headbands and topping every dish with fresh basil. Extra virgin olive oil flows freely and Aperol spritzes are never far from hand.
Being a true tomato girl doesn’t mean embodying the characters of Elena Ferrante’s best-selling novels, but knowing your facts about the fruit itself. Our guide to every type of tomato will up your bruschetta game and inspire your next outfit for aperitivos at the beach.
1. Roma Tomato
Named for Italy’s keystone city, the Roma is the quintessential cooking tomato. Stews, sauces, and salads benefit from its hearty flavor and putting them on the grill gives depth to crostini and pestos. Firmness means the fruit can hold up to many recipes, so get adventurous with your farmers market creations. An American cross between the San Marzano and other tomato plants, Romas are a solid crop to always have on hand.
2. Cherry Tomato
Inhaling cherry tomatoes straight off the vine is one of my favorite poolside activities. My grandfather kept a plant in his garden, and the only problem was waiting for new fruit to blossom as we rapidly ate each one. From skewers like caprese-tortellini party bites to a simple garlic and oil sauce, these tiny morsels makeup for their size in enjoyment and possibility. Serve in a bowl or alongside hummus to satisfy a snacking fix.
3. Plum Tomato
When it comes to sauce, plum tomatoes are the way to go. Resilient and less seedy than other fruits, plum tomatoes are the sought after variety for processing products like tomato paste, canned tomatoes and jarred marinaras. While most retail plums are Roma VF and San Marzano, Ropreco Paste, Amish Paste, and Big Mamas are also excellent finds.
4. San Marzano Tomato
Pro tip: buy San Marzano tomatoes. My Sicilian mother swears by enormous cans of certified San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes that always seem to occupy our pantry. Smaller and thinner than Plum and Roma tomatoes, San Marzanos are fit for packaging due to lower seed count and low acidity. Since its market introduction in the 1920s, growers have described the San Marzano as a “flawless” fruit protected by Italian law to ensure the highest quality in every commercial can.
5. Grape Tomato
A miniaturized version of a plum tomato, grape tomatoes pack a punch for their size. Crunchy and diverse in color, their meaty texture holds up in the face of salad dressing or grilling, ensuring your dish doesn’t become soggy. Try the Juliet grape tomato for a slightly sweeter snack and succulent filling akin to a classic Roma.
6. Red Beefsteak
Known for its size and meaty texture, the beefsteak tomato adds a fresh bite to a juicy burger. Its impressive diameter means slices can be stacked on a sandwich without sliding around, hence its prevalence in a classic BLT. Available in red, orange, pink, and even purple hues, tomato experts deem beefsteak varieties THE go-to salsa tomato, so grab the tortilla chips and guac.
7. Green Beefsteak
Get your breadcrumbs and channel Kathy Bates in her 1991 film with perfectly crisp fried green tomatoes. Not to be labeled as unripe or unsafe to eat, Green Beefsteak tomatoes are more tart than their red counterpart with a bit more bite; think of them as the Granny Smith to a Red Delicious apple. The tangy taste shines in baked goods, jams and salsa verde.
8. Brandywine Tomato
A pink and juicy beefsteak tomato, Brandywines are worth the near-100 day wait time for one of the best-tasting varieties. Smoother potato plant leaves, aesthetic ridges, and a whopping two-pound weight for some crops sets Brandywines apart from other types of tomatoes. Given its consistency, color and easy growing, it’s no surprise this native USA tomato has been beloved by home cooks and gardeners for over a century.
9. Heirloom Tomato
Heirloom tomatoes or Heritage tomatoes are seeds that have been passed down for generations. Diverse and fragrant, these picturesque pops of color elevate caprese salads and summer entrees and make for drool-worthy Instagram posts. Mr. Stripey, Oxheart, and Golden Jubilee tomatoes all fall into the Heirloom family, but must be used quickly due to a short shelf life. Pair with sweet fruit in a peach and balsamic salad or decorate ricotta toasts with peppered slices.
10. Cherokee Purple
Deep red and purple with green stripes to indicate ripeness, the Cherokee tomato boasts a sweet, smoky flavor with an earthy aftertaste. A sprinkle of salt and fresh herbs complements the dusty fruit, but Cherokees also boost hot offerings like pizza, pasta or a toasted baguette. The tomato has grown in popularity since the 1990s — the Cherokee Chocolate mutation is an even darker variety of equal robustness — but was used in Aztec communities for centuries to make spicy salsa for fish and meat.
11. Black Krim
Also called the Black Crimea, the Black Krim hails from the Isle of Krim off the coast of the Black Sea. Like the Cherokee Purple, Black Krims are dark in color but are easily distinguishable by their irregular shape and knobby appearance. A favorite of high-end chefs, make your weeknight dinner Bobby Flay-worthy with a Black Krim tomato salad or pasta sauce.
12. Campari Tomato
Though not an ingredient in the popular Italian liqueur of the same name, Campari tomatoes definitely evoke the desire for pasta and a refreshing spritz. Sweeter than cherry tomatoes and often sold on the vine, Camparis are marketed as “tomato lover’s tomato,” apt for eager snackers no matter their produce preference. Add these little gems to slow cooked meats, Mexican classics, or pull-apart sliders to excite a hungry crowd.
13. Globe Tomato
A medium-sized fruit with a round exterior, globe tomatoes are good for uniform slicing and packaging. Mild and adaptable, Better Boys and Early Girls are the most popular of the bunch. A short harvest period also makes Early Girls a go-to for home gardeners. The plant itself is resilient, so even those lacking a green thumb can try their hand at growing tomatoes. Great white tomatoes are a unique type of globe, with a stark white color and fruity, fresh taste.
14. Pear Tomato
Tiny and teardrop shaped, pear tomatoes are as adorable as they are tasty. This little heirloom is most commonly found a yellow color, but has orange and red varieties. Sweet like cherry and grape tomatoes, pear tomatoes bring a slightly citrusy profile to the mix and are the epitome of a delicious Italian summer.
15. Montserrat Tomato
If there was a tomato beauty pageant, Montserrats would undoubtedly be the winner. Reminiscent of a flower when sliced given its ridged form, this Catalan Heritage fruit plates beautifully in salads, sandwiches, pies, and appetizers. Nicknamed “rose tomatoes,” the aromatic Montserrat is also great for stuffing due to minimal seeds and flesh.
16. Zebra Tomato
Green zebra tomatoes are an easy pick when it comes to unique appearance. Zingy, tart, and a touch spicy, these striped fruits draw attention for their striking flesh and rich flavor. Resist the urge to label these attractive tomatoes unripe or unworthy — green is no reason for concern! Blend in a cooling gazpacho or slice to preserve its impressive pattern in a fresh salad.