That taste in memory
In those memories, tomatoes were a highlight on our tables. The bright peel of the fruit, the juice that flows out when you pinch it slightly, and the charming taste of sweet and sour. Take a bite, full of relish, hearty. Come again, the lingering fragrance on your fingers lingers for a long time, making people linger.
It was a good time for childhood, the West at that time
Tomatoes are a gift from nature. Whether eaten raw or stir-fried, it can make the taste buds feel unparalleled pleasure. Every summer, we take the initiative to buy a lot of fresh tomatoes, some for cooking, some for raw food. At that time, tomatoes were not as big as they are now, and they were not found everywhere, but they were far superior to similar products today, both in appearance and taste.
Today, those memories are a thing of the past. Today's tomatoes, both in size and color, are very different from what they remember. They may no longer find the sweetness and juiciness of the past, but instead have a bland, pale taste. Whether it's raw food or cooking, it's hard to recreate the good experiences of childhood. We have to ask, why are tomatoes so bland today?
The sorrow of modern breeding
Looking back at the history of tomatoes, it is not difficult to find why. Tomatoes originated in the Andes Mountains of South America, and wild tomatoes are small and cute in appearance, and are called "cherry tomatoes". In Mexico, the wild variety was domesticated and cultivated, allowing the tomatoes to grow in size. Such tomatoes gradually spread to Europe, but for a long time people did not use it as food, but cultivated it as an ornament. It wasn't until the 18th century, when a French painter with a passion for sketching tried tasting that interest in the consumption of tomatoes was sparked.
Later, as tomatoes were established as a vegetable rather than a drug, it finally made its way onto people's tables. Tomatoes at this time, both in appearance and taste, were much better than they are today. They may not have been as big as today's tomatoes, but each one was plump and juicy, with a thin skin and juicy skin, and the juice that overflowed when you bite into it will always leave you with a lingering aftertaste. At that time, tomatoes were not only bright in color, but also moderately sweet and sour, and extremely flavorful.
However, with the development of modern breeding technology, this wonderful taste of tomatoes has gradually disappeared from our table. In order to achieve perfection in appearance, breeders are constantly weeding out varieties that are less than ideal in appearance but have better taste. At the same time, in order to meet the needs of large-scale commercial production, they have deliberately cultivated some varieties with harder skin and larger fruits.
All this is contrary to the true nature of tomatoes. In order to cater to the appearance preferences of modern consumers, breeding experts have spared no effort to breed some varieties of tomatoes with uniform color and large body size. But at the same time, the sweetness and juicy content of these varieties are significantly reduced. As stated in the article, this situation of "not having both fish and bear's paws" is undoubtedly a serious departure from the true taste of tomatoes.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the tomatoes would not be damaged during transportation, the breeders deliberately cultivated some varieties with harder skins. Although this solves the transportation problem to a certain extent, it also directly leads to a significant reduction in the juice content inside the tomatoes. Not only that, but in order to prolong the freshness of tomatoes, these varieties are often picked before they are fully ripe. This undoubtedly further deteriorates the taste of the tomatoes, as underripe tomatoes lack the aroma and sweetness they deserve.
From these changes, it is not difficult to find that modern breeding techniques not only do not improve the quality of tomatoes, but on the contrary, they gradually deprive them of their due deliciousness. For those who love tomatoes, this is nothing less than a heart-wrenching sadness. We have destroyed a delicacy that we should have with our own hands and replaced it with a prosaic product.
Our "choice" led to the loss of the taste buds of tomatoes
Of course, the loss of the taste buds of modern tomatoes is not just due to changes in breeding technology. The "choice" of our consumers themselves also contributed to the occurrence of this tragedy to a large extent.
First of all, our preference for the appearance of tomatoes has directly led to the elimination of some high-quality varieties. As mentioned in the article, small, cute, and unevenly colored tomatoes are often considered "imperfect" and are discarded by breeders, either intentionally or unintentionally. In contrast, tomatoes that are large and evenly colored are more likely to be favored by consumers.
However, we often overlook that behind this "perfect" appearance, what is hidden is actually a huge sacrifice for the taste buds. The small tomatoes that are eliminated are the most delicious because they tend to have higher sugar content and richer flavor compounds. Unfortunately, we are often deceived by appearances and have no time to focus on our inner values.
Secondly, our need for the shelf life of tomatoes also makes some sacrifices for breeding experts. To ensure that tomatoes don't spoil during long transportation and storage, they have to choose varieties with harder skins. But this hard peel also means a decrease in the juice content inside the tomatoes.
At the same time, in order to prolong the shelf life of tomatoes, these varieties are often picked before they are fully ripe. This undoubtedly further damages the taste of the tomatoes, as they lack the ripeness they deserve, and they lack the flavor and sugar they deserve.
As the saying goes, "if you want to hurry, you can't get there", our urgent need for tomatoes to keep them fresh, but instead forbids them from being delicious. We always want to have fresh and juicy tomatoes at all times, but we lose sight of the cost behind this demand.
This cost is not achieved overnight, but is a gradual process. As we demand more and more from our appearance and shelf life, breeders are forced to weed out varieties that taste better but have a slightly worse appearance or a shorter shelf life. Over time, the tomatoes on our table gradually lose their aromatic sweetness and are replaced by a bland pale taste.
Let's recall how memorable those slightly flawed but delicious tomatoes used to be in our memory. Whether it's raw food or cooking, they give us the ultimate enjoyment. But nowadays, these memories have become a luxury, and we can no longer find the mouth-watering tomatoes of those days.
We have to ask, is this change a blessing or a curse? In the final analysis, has our consumers' own "choice" become the driving force behind the death of tomatoes' taste buds?
On the face of it, these demands seem reasonable, and who wouldn't want to be able to buy big, red, and shelf-stable tomatoes? But in fact, these needs undoubtedly come at the cost of the true taste of tomatoes. We seem to have forgotten that the value of a tomato is not just its appearance, but also its inner deliciousness. When we focus too much on appearance and shelf life, we also deprive it of its original flavor.
This choice based on "utilitarianism" is undoubtedly contrary to the values that we should have as human beings. As food lovers, shouldn't we focus more on the essential qualities of food than on its appearance? As consumers, shouldn't we think more about how our "choices" affect producers?
We should reflect on whether we are leading the development of tomatoes or being held back by them. When we are constantly pushing for the change of tomato varieties for some superficial needs, are we also unconsciously losing a precious taste?
Rediscover the true taste of tomatoes
It is reassuring to note that in recent years, more and more people have begun to realize the seriousness of the problem. They call for an emphasis on the true taste of tomatoes, rather than simply looking for appearance and shelf life. This kind of voice is gradually converging into a trend, hoping to drive the transformation of the entire industry chain.
First, some growers who focus on high quality are trying to reclaim traditional varieties that were once abandoned. They learned that tomatoes that are small, cute, and unevenly colored are often the most flavorful. Instead of giving up on these "imperfect" varieties, they breed them in the hope that they will be able to bring them back to the table.
At the same time, these growers are also looking for more environmentally friendly breeding methods that minimize interference with the natural properties of tomatoes. They moved away from the over-emphasis on appearance and shelf-shelfness and focused more on the nutritional value and flavor profile of the tomatoes themselves. By choosing the right growing environment and techniques, they hope to bring the tomatoes back to their true form.
At the same time, more and more consumers are beginning to reflect on their choices. They are beginning to realize that the harsh requirements we used to have for tomatoes are actually ruining this delicacy step by step. So they started to actively look for tomato varieties that retained their traditional flavors and were happy to pay a higher price for them.
This shift in consumption orientation has undoubtedly brought hope for the reform of the entire industrial chain. Growers have more incentive to breed high-quality varieties, and consumers can express their yearning for authentic taste with their own "money". In this mutually reinforcing situation, the loss of tomatoes' taste buds may finally be saved.
Of course, this is not an overnight process. We need to put in a sustained effort to finally regain the aromatic sweetness that tomatoes deserve. But as long as we are united and persevering in the pursuit of deliciousness, I believe that one day, we will be able to taste that long-lost taste again at the table.
This is not only a return to tomatoes, but also a reflection on ourselves. Should we think more about whether our "choices" are dictating or being constrained by the development of things? When we are constantly pushing for the change of products for some superficial needs, are we also unconsciously losing a valuable quality?
The loss of tomatoes may also reflect some deep-seated problems of our time. Should we focus more on the intrinsic value of things than simply obsessed with appearances? Should we reflect on our "choices" and take responsibility for them?
Let's regain the original taste of tomatoes that we have lost for a long time, not only for the sake of the delicacy itself, but also for the yearning for beautiful things in our hearts. Only when we take the initiative to reflect and change can we make this world a better place.