Today, I’d like to talk about Tokushima prefecture’s fruit tomatoes!

Dear reader, 

What do you know about fruit tomatoes?

People often mistake them for another variety, but actually they’re the same as ordinary tomatoes, just cultivated differently. When given minimal water in a harsh environment, tomatoes grow small and sweet. Known as fruit tomatoes, they have a sugar content of over 8 degrees Brix (the average tomato is around 4-5 degrees). However, with a sugar content of 8-12 degrees, Tokushima grown fruit tomatoes go beyond that! 

Grown by Harada Tomato in Awa city, Tokushima prefecture, ”Hoshi no Shizuku” tomatoes are just amazing! They have 3x the nutrients and sweetness of average tomatoes.

They are of course delicious eaten as is, but foods made from them are simply mouthwatering!

“Star Drop” is a jelly made from whole Hoshi no Shizuku tomatoes. The sweetness of the tomato tightly encased within the jelly tastes exquisitely fresh, but as they’re JPY1080 each, they’re quite expensive for jelly, but worth it! 

Here are couple more of our recommended products:

The ”Akai Hoseki” (‘red jewel’) tomato sweet (Large JPY1620, small JPY1080), and “Luna rossa”, an additive-free tomato purée.

“Akai Hoseki” (‘red jewel’) is a compote (simmered in syrup) of Hoshi no Shizuku tomatoes that glisten colorfully like jewellery and taste even sweeter. Eat these at breakfast, and I’m sure your whole day will be filled with happiness!

With around 1.5 times the freshly picked tomato’s rich flavor and sweetness, “Luna rossa ” is a super rich tomato purée made by simmering whole tomatoes, including their skin which is packed with lycopene.

I wondered what to make with it, but decided there’s no better option than this!

It’s makes the ultimate pasta dish that almost had me thinking I’m a cooking genius and should open a restaurant! It was the purée that was delicious… Nothing to do with my cooking skills, but I think it’s much better than you’d find in the average restaurant! 

As all the products are really popular, they sometimes even sell out. If you’d like to try any, take a look at the homepage below and place your order!

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Harada Tomato

Location: 101 Donarichokori, Awa city, Tokushima prefecture
Tel: 088-695-3189
http://haradatomato.com/ (Japanese) 

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Daisuke Chiba