Red currant tomatoes, botanical name Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, are an independent species of tomatoes and one of two edible species of tomatoes alongside common tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum. Red currant tomatoes are members of the large, complex and diverse Solanaceae family, AKA Nightshade, which includes more than three thousand known species. Among them, wild and cultivated crops from Old World and New World are found within the once ominous nightshade family of plants. The scientific value of currant tomatoes cannot be overestimated. They carry with them the DNA that has proven to be the starting point for comparing gene evolution within the Solanaceae family. Currant tomato’s DNA also provides a road map for understanding the bottlenecks that have narrowed tomato genetic diversity: cultivated tomatoes carry only 5% of the genes that their wild counterparts maintain, making little room for diversity among the 6,000 documented domesticated tomato cultivars.

Red currant tomatoes are the smallest edible tomato. One fruit weighs an average of 3 grams. The fruits are round, thin-skinned, glossy and candy apple red. The flesh is packed with two cells carrying juicy seeds that when punctured provide a succulent burst. Red currant tomato’s flavor is very sweet and bright, displaying high levels of both sugar and acid if left to ripen prior to harvest.

Nutritional Value

Red currant tomatoes are an inherently rich source of lycopene, a naturally occuring pigment that doubles as an antioxidant. Lycopene is known for its anti-cancer benefits such as preventing, fighting and repairing cell damage within human bodies.

Serving Ideas

By culinary measures, red currant tomatoes are essentially petite Cherry tomatoes, thus they can be used in any Cherry tomato recipe. Their natural ripening season is mid to late summer, so seasonal recipes and ingredient pairings are best suited to showcase the red currant tomato’s best virtues. Consider leaving red currant tomatoes whole for any application as their culinary attributes will be amplified if eaten whole.

Geography/History

The red currant tomato is native to South America, primarily in Peru and the Galapagos Islands where it still grows wild today. It is also considered the closest descendent of the wild tomato: based on genetic comparisons, it split from the wild tomato roughly 1.4 million years ago. The red currant tomato’s size and its region of natural habitat have remained unchanged since its discovery. It can still be found growing wild in coastal South America along with 11 wild tomato species, albeit their wild populations are radically declining as natural habitats are shrinking due to urban development and intensive agriculture. In fact, regardless of its impressive survival rate through the course of the world’s history, red currant tomatoes are classified as an endangered species.

Seasons/Availability

Red currant tomatoes are available during the summer.