Tree Tomato

Solanum betaceum

General Information

Tamarillo is a fruit vegetable. The tamarillo, like other tomatoes, belongs to the nightshade family. The fruit is oval-shaped and yellow or red in color. The jelly-like flesh is orange and contains small dark edible seeds.

Tamarillos grow on a tree. The development from flower to fruit takes about 16 weeks. Tamarillos are available year round. Tamarillos are supplied from various tropical countries. From October to April, the fruits come from Brazil and Columbia. From December to April from Kenya. And from April to October, the fruits come from New Zealand. The fruits originally come from the Andes, where they grow at an altitude of 1000 to 3000 meters. We get our fruits from Colombia, where the tamarillo also does well.

Tree Tomato

Latin name: Solanum betaceum
Family plant name: Solanaceae
Origin: The Andes of Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia

Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
Serving size 100
Amount per serving
Calories 31
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.36g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1.44mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 3.8g 2%
Dietary Fiber 3.3g 11%
Total Sugars 0g
Includes 0g Added Sugars 0%
Protein 2g
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 10.7mg 1%
Iron 0.57mg 4%
Potassium 321mg 7%
Vitamin A 21%
Vitamin C 50%
Vitamin E 14%
The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

What properties does the sweet patato have?

 

    • The tamarillo has a slightly sweet and intense flavour. The skin is quite bitter, it is usually not eaten.
    • Tamarillos are egg-shaped and about 4 to 10 inches long. Their color varies from yellow and orange to red and almost purple.
    • Tamarillos should feel firm and the skin should be intact. A ripe tamarillo yields to light finger pressure.
    • In Ecuador, the tamarillo, known as “tomate de arbol”, is mixed with chili peppers to make a hot sauce commonly consumed with local dishes from the Andes region.
    • Tamarillo is high in pectin which means it has good canning properties. However, they oxidize and lose color when treated.
    • Tamarillo is packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and pro-vitamin A. It also has a good amount of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamine and riboflavin.
    • Anthocyanins in the dark tamarillo contain powerful antioxidants that help fight cancer-causing free radicals. They also have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent cancer outbreaks.

     

    How to Consume?

    The tree tomato tastes intense, with a slightly sweet accent. You could eat the skin, but the bitter taste makes it not recommended.