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Tomatoes are a common vegetable in our daily life, it is sweet and sour, rich in vitamin C and lycopene, which is good for health and beauty.
But, you know what? Tomatoes also have a lot of untold secrets that can cause some trouble for your body if you don't pay attention.
Today, we will demystify tomatoes and give you a new understanding of this ordinary food.
An amazing journey with tomatoes
Bob is an ordinary office worker who goes to the nearby supermarket every morning to buy some breakfast.
One day, he found a fresh tomato in the supermarket, they were bright and attractive, round and full, and mouthwatering.
Bob remembered the scrambled eggs with tomatoes he ate at his grandmother's house in the countryside when he was a child, which was his favorite dish.
Bob carefully observed the next tomato, its skin was smooth and delicate, without any blemishes or scars.
I can't help but think that this tomato is so perfect, it must be delicious. So he decided to buy a few to eat at home. However, when he returned home to eat, Xiaoming felt a strange taste.
The tomato was not as delicious as he expected, but a little hard, dry, astringent, and tasteless.
Bob was disappointed and felt that he had been deceived.
What Xiao Ming didn't know was that this tomato had gone through a long and wonderful journey before it came to his hands.
This journey started in South America and took several turns in Europe, Asia, Africa and other places, leaving a deep mark on history, culture, science and more.
It played an important role in human society, was affected multiple times in the artificial environment, and eventually became the tomato we see today.
Do you want to know the story of this tomato? Then explore with me!
Ancestor of tomatoes: wild tomatoes
The ancestor of tomatoes is a plant called wild tomato, which is native to the Andes Mountains of South America.
The wild tomato is a perennial herbaceous plant that has thorns on its stem and leaves.
Its fruit is a small, green berry with a diameter of only 1-2 cm, which has a sour taste and contains toxins, making it unsuitable for human consumption.
The growing environment of wild tomatoes is very harsh, and they have to face high altitude, low temperature, drought, salinity, pests and diseases.
To adapt to these stresses, wild tomatoes have evolved some special traits.
The fruit of wild tomatoes contains a compound called lycopine, which is resistant to some insects and fungi but is toxic to humans and animals.
This is a defense mechanism for wild tomatoes to protect themselves from being eaten by herbivores.
In addition to lycopine, the fruit of wild tomatoes also contains a plant hormone called ethylene, which promotes the ripening and shedding of the fruit.
This is a transmission mechanism of wild tomatoes that allows the fruit to fall to the ground when ripe, scattered by the wind or carried away by the current, thus expanding its distribution.
In addition, the genome of wild tomatoes is very complex, they have 12 pairs of chromosomes, a total of 24 strips.
This is a mutation mechanism of wild tomatoes that allows them to produce different variations and hybrids in different environments, thereby increasing their own adaptability and diversity.
Although wild tomatoes are not suitable for human consumption, they provide genetic resources for the cultivation of a variety of tomato varieties.
Humans first came into contact with wild tomatoes around 2000 BC, when the Incas of South America began cultivating wild tomatoes as an ornamental plant.
Later, around 500 BC, the Maya of South America began cultivating wild tomatoes as a food plant.
And through artificial selection and hybridization, their size, color, taste and other traits have been improved. These improved tomatoes are called cultivated tomatoes, and they are the direct ancestors of tomatoes.
Migration of tomatoes: from the New World to the Old World
Cultivated tomatoes, although more suitable for human consumption than wild tomatoes, are still limited to South and Central America.
It was not until the late 15th and early 16th centuries that Europeans began to explore the New World and brought cultivated tomatoes back to Europe.
This was the most important migration in tomato history and the biggest shift in tomato culture.
At that time, the attitude of Europeans towards the cultivation of tomatoes was complicated, on the one hand, they were attracted by the beauty and exoticism of cultivated tomatoes, cultivating them as ornamental plants or medicinal plants.
On the other hand, they also doubt the safety and edible value of cultivated tomatoes, considering them poisonous or lowly, and calling them "wolf peaches" or "golden apples".
These different perceptions have led to the spread and acceptance of cultivated tomatoes in European countries.
In Italy, cultivated tomatoes were quickly loved and consumed.
Because they go well with the cheese, bread, herbs and other foods that Italians like, many classic dishes are formed, such as tomato paste, tomato salad, tomato soup, etc.
Italians were also the first to refer to cultivated tomatoes as "tomatoes" because they believed they were red fruits from the West.
In the UK, cultivated tomatoes are seen as a dangerous and disgusting food that almost no one dares to eat.
The British were also the first to refer to cultivated tomatoes as "wolf peaches" because they believed they were poisonous and associated with wolves.
The British also have few traditions of cultivating tomatoes, only simple and prosaic practices, such as scrambled eggs with tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato paste, etc.
From Europe, tomato cultivation spread to Asia, Africa and other regions with colonists and traders.
In these regions, tomato cultivation encountered different cultures and habits, resulting in different changes and influences.
In China, cultivated tomatoes were originally regarded as an ornamental or medicinal plant, known as "persimmons" or "tomatoes".
It was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that cultivated tomatoes began to be widely consumed.
And combined with Chinese favorite tofu, meat, rice and other foods, many local specialties have been formed, such as scrambled eggs with tomatoes, beef stew with tomatoes, fried rice with tomatoes, etc.
In India, cultivated tomatoes were quickly accepted and loved by Indians and blended with foods such as curry, spices, cheese, etc., which Indians loved.
Many spicy and rich dishes are formed, such as tomato curry, tomato yogurt, tomato salad, etc.
In this way, the cultivation of tomatoes from the New World to the Old World and then to other continents has undergone a journey across time, space and culture, and has become a favorite food of people all over the world.
However, this journey does not end, and tomato cultivation has to face a new challenge: the influence of modern technology.
Changes in tomatoes: from natural to artificial
Cultivated tomatoes have become a widely cultivated and consumed food after a long migration and spread.
However, with the development of human society and the advancement of science and technology, the cultivation of tomatoes is constantly changing, gradually shifting from a natural state to an artificial state.
These changes have pros and cons, bringing convenience and benefits to humanity, as well as risks and problems. Let's take a look at what these changes are:
1. Genetic modification
Genetic modification refers to the technology of artificially altering the genetic material of an organism to change its traits and functions.
Genetic modification can make cultivated tomatoes have some excellent characteristics, such as resistance to diseases and insects, drought, salinity, yield and efficiency.
However, genetic modification may also bring some potential harms, such as disrupting the ecological balance, affecting human health, and causing ethical disputes.
2. Ripening agent
Ripening agent refers to a substance or method that promotes the ripening and shedding of fruit by chemical or physical means. Ripening agents can bring cultivated tomatoes to market in advance, meet market demand, and increase revenue.
However, ripening agents may also affect the quality and safety of cultivated tomatoes, such as reducing nutrients, damaging taste, and residual toxins.
3. Pesticide fertilizer
Pesticides and fertilizers refer to chemicals or organic substances used to control pests and diseases and improve soil fertility. Pesticide fertilizers can protect cultivated tomatoes from loss, improving yield and quality.
However, pesticide fertilizers may also cause pollution and harm to the environment and human body, such as polluting water sources, soil, air, etc., remaining in the fruit, causing poisoning or allergies.
These changes have transformed cultivated tomatoes from a natural organism into an artificial product, giving us more choice and control over them.
So, in the face of these changes, how should we choose and eat tomatoes?
How to choose tomatoes
Tomatoes are a common food, and we may be exposed to them every day. But do we have enough knowledge and judgment when it comes to choosing and eating tomatoes?
Can we recognize the quality of tomatoes from the outside to the inside?
In fact, the appearance of tomatoes can reflect their freshness, maturity, variety and other information.
In general, we should choose tomatoes that are brightly colored, crack-free, and moth-free.
These tomatoes are usually fresh, ripe, and healthy.
The origin of tomatoes can reflect information such as how they are grown, environmental conditions, processing processes, etc.
In general, we should choose tomatoes that are organically grown, pollution-free, and additive-free. These tomatoes are generally safe, healthy and environmentally friendly.
We should avoid tomatoes that are genetically modified, over-applied with pesticides and fertilizers, and use ripening agents. These tomatoes are usually more dangerous, harmful, and contaminating.
Of course, when choosing and eating tomatoes, you must also combine your actual situation and judgment to make the most suitable choice for yourself.
Epilogue:
Through this article, we learn about the amazing journey of tomatoes, from their ancestors to their changes, from their origin to their choices.
We have found that tomatoes are a delicious and healthy food that brings us nutrition and joy, as well as knowledge and reflection.
Have you ever had a question or confusion about tomatoes? How do you choose and eat tomatoes? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to share your thoughts and feelings.