Knock yer socks off flavor

[kenny_j]

I grew Cherokee Green for the first time this year. It is a truly great tomato. I have eaten 5 or six now, from 3 different plants, all of them superb. The 1st was from a plant I gave to a friend. From great composted soil, but in very crowded conditions, plants only 18" apart, staked but not pruned at all. I think she was waiting for it to turn red. I picked it to save seed, thinking it was past its prime, the bottom was a brownish yellow, much more that just a yellow blush, the top was still green, but more olive green. To my delight it was beautiful inside, with a silky smooth texture, a lime green flesh, and super sweet with rich, citrusy overtones and enough bite to fall into the elusive category of well balanced, utterly delicious flavor.
The others were less ripe, with a nice yellowing blush, maybe a touch more bite, but every bit as good. This tells me they may have a better shelf life than most tomatoes, if no broken skin. I always try to eat new varieties at differing stages, some really shine at just the right stage of ripeness, and some through all stages.
So what have you tasted for the the first time, this year or in the past, that really blew your socks off? Not just really good, but above and beyond wildest expectations. The only other large tomatoes for me are Brandywine Cowlicks and NAR (NAR, I only got a few fruit off last yr, so far this yr they are not even close). For a paste Santa Maria this year.
kj

KBX is a great tomato, but not a Knock Yer Socks Off flavor. Silky, meaty and mildly sweet and one I like to add to sauces or for drying, where the flavor intensifies beautifully. Santa Maria Probably belongs down here with KBX, though more flavor than KBX. I have tried probably a couple hundered varieties now, and only have a handful that are truly great tomatoes with intense but balanced flavor, IMHO.

[carolyn137]

Since many don't wear socks and those that do wear socks of several different colors what you're going to get in this thread are personal tastes with no agreement, b'c of all the issues involved in taste, which are many.

On the upside threads like this are always interesting to me and others, I don't wear socks, since some may mention certain varieties that no one else is growing or has grown that others might be interested in.

Again, just the knock your socks off taste varieties, as you requested.

Carolyn

[FarmerShawn]

The three that gave us "Oh, wow!" taste this year (so far) are Wes, big red heart; Belyi Naliv, small round salad tomatoes; and Sophie's Choice, dwarf.

[Cole_Robbie]

I liked Cherokee Green, too.

I had a Dwarf Tasmanian Chocolate this year that was the best container tomato I've ever eaten.

Black and Brown Boar was a big hit among market customers for flavor.

I didn't have Yellow Brandywine this year, but it is a favorite from previous years.

[natural]

My top 5 favorites this year are:

Dwarf Kelly Green - my favorite GWR from the dwarf project
Negro de Jaen - I love the flavor of this "black" tomato that also has a nice tangy note to it
Pearls of Wisdom - I get some of the same flavor as with PBTD
Malakhitovaya Shkatulka - my new favorite GWR
Cowlick's Brandywine - now I now what all of the fuss is about.

Bill

[RobinB]

Malakhitovaya Shkatulka is an always grow here for me. It never fails to WOW, and this year is no exception. Last year, the big surprise was Margaret Curtain. I just picked the first this year, so we'll see in a couple of days if it's a repeat in that department. So far this year, the biggest WOW is an F3 from the Dwarf Tomato Project that I named Jeremy's Stripes (from the Kiwi line). They're 2-4 oz, round, and orange/green striped. Knee buckling-ly good!

[charline]

for me its Orange Russian 117 !!!
my all time favorite . If you eat it the very fist time you think it is an exotic fruit. Never would you think that is a tomato. So sweet and fruity.

[natural]

Originally Posted by RobinB

Malakhitovaya Shkatulka is an always grow here for me. It never fails to WOW, and this year is no exception. Last year, the big surprise was Margaret Curtain. I just picked the first this year, so we'll see in a couple of days if it's a repeat in that department. So far this year, the biggest WOW is an F3 from the Dwarf Tomato Project that I named Jeremy's Stripes (from the Kiwi line). They're 2-4 oz, round, and orange/green striped. Knee buckling-ly good!

I was looking forward to tasting Margaret Curtain, but both of my plants succumbed to disease fairly early. I'll try it again next year.

[Redbaron]

SunGold F1 knocked my socks off. Haven't worn socks since! But at least I was prepared for it, given the great reviews. The one that blindsided me was Snickers. Good sliced, but made into sauce? WOW! And the flavor of Dester was awesome sliced. All three can be considered socks knocker offers.

[Lindalana]

Malakhitovaya schatulka is favorite here too, hubby loves it for juices.
This year was first year I´ve grown Crnkovic Yugoslavian, excellent taste and will sure to grow more.
Another two varieties that will win real estate on taste alone- Altajskij Urozajnij and Galina´s red from Tania.
AU is mouthful to name, compact plant which probably will do just as well in pot. But taste is WOW! I regret very much I only left one plant for myself to grow.
Galina´s Red is large beef type- LOVED it! Am keeping them separate so hubby does not juice it. Both of those plants are on early midseason side.

[kath]

We've had some great tomatoes this year, but aside from Sungold, which knocks my socks off every time I eat one, the only ones that came close to that sensation were Elgin Pink and Blackberry. Also really good have been Daniel Burson, Don's Double Delight, Margaret Curtain, Grosse Verte Rose, Moya and Negrillo de Almoguera. The last 3 as well as Blackberry are all from the Secret Seed Cartel and are amazing tomatoes and just as advertised...thanks, Terry!

kath

[bower]

Even with the 'tomato surfeit' that happened here due to everything ripening at once, there are a couple that I still looked forward to eating... Pink Berkeley Tie Dye is worth waiting for, Tsindao is an exceptionally sweet black like nothing I've tasted before. Blush also ranked with the best tomatoes I've eaten.

Malachitovaya Schkatulka is an amazing plant. So vigorous, set in the cold and kept on into the heat, produced lots of very large fruit (I think it will rank the largest for me) mostly close to a pound, but the flavour doesn't knock my socks. It's good enough but nothing special here... Is there a trick with these - what degree of ripeness is the best? I have eaten when malachite green inside, also when the center has turned yellow, but they are just good, not sock knockers so far...

[efisakov]

This year new Rosella Purple Dwarf and for a few years Black Cherry knocks my socks off.

[NarnianGarden]

So far, the absolute winner taste-wise has been Tarasenko Rozhevyi. Amazing. Wow, wow and wow. Sweet and refreshing - out of this world. Fruit of paradise!

[PaulF]

Just ate a Cowlicks Brandywine that knocked 'em off. Several good ones this year after they finally got going.