Sweet vs. Mild vs. Acid vs...

[kimpossible]

I was wondering ... & if this has been discussed before, maybe someone can point me in the right direction...

Does a "sweet" tomato = "low acid" tomato?

Does a "low acid" tomato = "mild" or "bland" tomato?

Does a yellow or gold or white tomato = "low acid"?

Or are none of these things related?

I myself, prefer a strong, more acid, "old fashioned" tomato taste.

My husband has recently been diagnosed with colitis, & can't tolerate too much "tomato", period (fresh, sauce, etc.) Before his diagnosis I didn't have to worry about acidity - I could grow what ever I liked.

Now I am growing some whites, yellows, etc. hoping that he will have more tolerance to them.

Am I thinking straight? Can anyone help me out?

[nctomatoman]

It is really complicated - we all like what we like, we all have particular ways of processing flavors and aromas that are unique to each of us....hence my sweet tasting tomato may be your tart tomato.

Since all tomatoes are pretty much the same in acidity, the way we perceive sweetness, tartness, and other flavors are dependent upon sugar levels in particular tomatoes/varieties, as well as what other chemical compounds are present, leading to other nuances of flavor (similar to wine or beer tasting).

My feeling is that people who can't tolerate red tomatoes (because they think it is the acid) are likely having issues with other flavor components.

[kimpossible]

OK - this is going to be more complicated than I thought! I would like to know more about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, & the other flavour components that might be relevant.

When you have the time... Thanks!

[Fert1]

Yeah, I have to agree that it is a complex situation. I don't really buy into the theory that more sugar in a tomato = less acidic flavor. To me the best tasting tomatoes have a good bit of both. For example, Cherokee Purple has a nice sweet flavor, but also a good bit of underlying tartness. The bland tomatoes have very little of either. They are neither sweet nor tart. Yes, I will agree that some lean more in one direction or the other on the sweetness/tartness scale, but I like a tomato with a very full flavor that includes elements of both. SunGold has been described as a very sweet tomato, and it is very sweet, but it also has a pretty strong sour bite to it, at least in my garden anyway. Am I making any sense here?

[kimpossible]

Thanks, KC, I will investigate that further...

[Fert1]

Kctomato,

I looked at your links for the SCDiet. I have Crohn's Disease and had not heard of this before. Can you tell me a little re: what it's all about. I was a little confused by the FAQ. You can just send me a direct email if you like, athough there could be others here like myself that are not familiar with it.