A Smoky Black

TomatoDon · February 15, 2006

I keep hearing people mention the "smoky" flavor of certain black tomatoes. Which varieties are you referring to?

Don

Raymondo · February 15, 2006

Cherokee Purple is one I'd consider to have a 'smokey' flavour.

TomatoDon · February 15, 2006

Great. I have Cherokee Purple and Carbon on my 2006 grow list.

Thanks!

Don

**carolyn137** · February 15, 2006

Don,

Whether or not you taste something smokey or indeed salty, as some folks do when they grow blacks, is really a function of your own tastebuds.

I've grown scads of black varieties and have never once tasted anything remotely smokey or salty. And I'm not alone in saying that.

Earthy tasting? Now that's getting closer to what I taste with some, but not all of them.

Carolyn

**nctomatoman** · February 15, 2006

I also do not pick up whatever someone describes as "smoky". The first year I grew Black Krim, I was surprised at its lack of sweetness - to my tongue, it was nearly "salty", but not smoky. I also do not care for the flavor of Black Plum - but it is because I pick up a funky, nearly green flavor to it. I suspect that if a table of cut tomatoes of various colors, varieties, etc were laid out and we were blindfolded, taste descriptions would be very, very different! it is very difficult to seperate our expectations from visual expectations from reality!

KCMO_Don · February 15, 2006

Quote:

"I suspect that if a table of cut tomatoes of various colors, varieties, etc were laid out and we were blindfolded, taste descriptions would be very, very different! it is very difficult to seperate our expectations from visual expectations from reality!"

I agree 100% !!

TheDens · February 15, 2006

The first time I tasted a Black Krim, my first response was, "Wow, I didn't know a tomato could taste that sweet!"
Just goes to show, it's all in the tongue of the beholder.

Denna

**nctomatoman** · February 15, 2006

Denna - possibly, though I've tried Black Krim from a few other sources, and there is definitely variability out there (I regrew my source and it is still unsweet - others I've grown are sweeter). This is not unexpected, however, since the explostion of differently named black varieties over the past 5 - 10 years must be far in excess of actual varieties - there is some renaming going on out there!

travis · February 15, 2006

Don,

The only two blacks I've grown are Cherokee Purple and Black Krim.

I didn't notice anything that I could remotely describe as tasting smoky or salty about either. But then neither of them turned "black" for me.

The CPs took on a smoky color every year, just not a smoky taste. Maybe some people taste with their eyes more than I do.

I will say that the CP was superior to the BK in flavor and texture.

PV

Catntree · February 15, 2006

Don,

Cherokee Purple and Carbon are two of the best...I think you are set with these representatives.

TomatoDon · February 15, 2006

I said a black, not a yellow.

Don

lumierefrere · February 16, 2006

I agree with Denna. The Black Krim I had last year was closer to tree fruit than a tomato. It was so sweet and delicious--far sweeter than either Sungold or Black Cherry. Yes, I saved seeds. Yea!

February 15, 2006	#1
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	A Smoky Black I keep hearing people mention the "smoky" flavor of certain black tomatoes. Which varieties are you referring to? Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

February 15, 2006	#2
Raymondo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Saumarez Ponds, NSW, Australia Posts: 946	Cherokee Purple is one I'd consider to have a 'smokey' flavour. __________________ Ray

February 15, 2006	#3
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Great. I have Cherokee Purple and Carbon on my 2006 grow list. Thanks! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

February 15, 2006	#5
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I also do not pick up whatever someone describes as "smoky". The first year I grew Black Krim, I was surprised at its lack of sweetness - to my tongue, it was nearly "salty", but not smoky. I also do not care for the flavor of Black Plum - but it is because I pick up a funky, nearly green flavor to it. I suspect that if a table of cut tomatoes of various colors, varieties, etc were laid out and we were blindfolded, taste descriptions would be very, very different! it is very difficult to seperate our expectations from visual expectations from reality! __________________ Craig

February 15, 2006	#8
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Denna - possibly, though I've tried Black Krim from a few other sources, and there is definitely variability out there (I regrew my source and it is still unsweet - others I've grown are sweeter). This is not unexpected, however, since the explostion of differently named black varieties over the past 5 - 10 years must be far in excess of actual varieties - there is some renaming going on out there! __________________ Craig

February 15, 2006	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Don, Whether or not you taste something smokey or indeed salty, as some folks do when they grow blacks, is really a function of your own tastebuds. I've grown scads of black varieties and have never once tasted anything remotely smokey or salty. And I'm not alone in saying that. Earthy tasting? Now that's getting closer to what I taste with some, but not all of them. Carolyn

February 15, 2006	#7
TheDens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia (Zone 7b) Posts: 233	The first time I tasted a Black Krim, my first response was, "Wow, I didn't know a tomato could taste that sweet!" Just goes to show, it's all in the tongue of the beholder. Denna

February 15, 2006	#9
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Don, The only two blacks I've grown are Cherokee Purple and Black Krim. I didn't notice anything that I could remotely describe as tasting smoky or salty about either. But then neither of them turned "black" for me. The CPs took on a smoky color every year, just not a smoky taste. Maybe some people taste with their eyes more than I do. I will say that the CP was superior to the BK in flavor and texture. PV

February 15, 2006	#10
Catntree Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 177	Don, Cherokee Purple and Carbon are two of the best...I think you are set with these representatives. __________________ Zone 4/5

February 15, 2006	#11
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I said a black, not a yellow. Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

February 16, 2006	#12
lumierefrere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Zone 4 NY Posts: 772	I agree with Denna. The Black Krim I had last year was closer to tree fruit than a tomato. It was so sweet and delicious--far sweeter than either Sungold or Black Cherry. Yes, I saved seeds. Yea!