Blue Tomatoes

The quality that makes blue tomatoes blue is the expression of the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is most notably a polyphenol found in blueberries. Anthocyanin has virtually no taste, so the flavor of a blue or purple tomato will be unique to the variety just as it is with any other tomato. Breeders are working on developing ever better tasting blues.

Blue ‘Antho’ Tomatoes

  • Blue Beauty
  • Bosque Blue
  • Helsing Junction
  • Indigo Cherry Drops
  • Indigo Pear Drop
  • Indigo Rose
  • Midnight Roma

In regards to health, the polyphenols in blue or purple tomatoes play a role in the prevention and treatment of several important human diseases, as shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Recent studies has indicated a particular capacity of tomato fruit anthocyanins to act as scavengers of harmful reactive chemical species that stops the rapid increase and growth of cancer cells.

Some of the varieties listed are heritage breeds, with a few coming from a tomato breeding program whose goal was to increase the quantity of the anthocyanin. Also some of the flesh may be darker than a typical red tomato, the blue color, and beneficial anthocyanin, is found mostly in the skin.

Blue Beauty

Growth habit: Indeterminant
Fruit size: smaller beefsteak
Flesh: medium density
Flavor: Good
Days to Harvest: 80

This variety holds well on the vine, and is both sunburn and crack resistant. A recent Brad Gates introduction, it was selected from a cross between ‘Beauty King’ and a blue tomato. Quality of flavor and productivity appears to be more dependent upon the quality and health of the soil than other varieties.

Bosque Blue

Growth habit: Indeterminant
Fruit size: large cherry sized
Flesh: Dense
Flavor: sweet
Days to Harvest: 75

An excellent fresh snacking tomato. The more sun the fruit receives the darker the flesh. A productive and rare cultivar. They are fully ripe when between the color of indigo to deep purple. This is more recent variety, and is not an heirloom.

Helsing Junction

Growth habit: Vigorous indeterminant
Fruit size: large cherry-type
Flesh: medium density
Flavor: Tangy & sweet
Days to Harvest: 69

Bred in 2012 by famed tomato breeder Tom Wagner and named for Helsing Junction Farm near Rochester, Washington. Harvest when the fruits are a dark blue color.

Indigo Cherry Drops

Growth habit: Vigorous indeterminant
Fruit size: Bite-sized
Flesh: slightly juicy
Flavor: Good
Days to Harvest: 65 – 70

An improved snacking tomato from Indigo Rose. Purple and red skin with a red flesh. For the best flavor and texture, harvest when the colors have deepened and the fruit is soft to the touch.

Indigo Pear Drop

Growth habit: Indeterminant
Fruit size: medium, bell-shap
Flesh: medium density
Flavor: Delicate, sweet, balanced
Days to Harvest: 65

A variety that can be grown in a container, the fruits are pear-shaped and larger than a small cherry. From Oregon State University’s high flavonoid breeding programme, by Dr. Jim Meyers, this tomato produces large yields of heavily-packed branches of fruits deep yellow fruits with purple shoulders. It’s said that the color of the fruits are derived from wild tomatoes from the Galapagos Islands and Peru.

Indigo Rose

Growth habit: Indeterminant
Fruit size: 2″ size
Flesh: balanced
Flavor: good
Days to Harvest: 80

The nearly blue skin occurs on the portion of the fruit exposed to light, while the shaded turn a deep red when mature. Inside, the flesh reveals the same rouge tone. The plant has an open indeterminant growth pattern.

Midnight Roma

Growth habit: Semi-determinant
Fruit size: Roma
Flesh: medium density
Flavor: delicious
Days to Harvest: 80

A delicious deep purple and red paste tomato, with a quick cook time. As with other purple fleshed varieties, more sunlight increases the darker pigmentation. This is a tomato developed by Oregon State University breeder Dr. Jim Myers, who has been working to naturally increase the anthocyanin content in tomatoes using natural methods.

REFERENCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7590037/