I Didn’t Believe in Blue Tomatoes… Until I Grew Them

I Didn’t Believe in Blue Tomatoes… Until I Grew Them

I’ll admit it — I used to roll my eyes at anthocyanin (“blue”) tomatoes.

Blue tomatoes? Really? It sounded like something invented just to look fancy. I’m a flavour-first gardener. If it doesn’t taste amazing, I don’t care how pretty it is.

But then… I grew a few.

And everything changed.

So What Are “Blue” Tomatoes Anyway?

They’re called blue because of anthocyanins — natural pigments that also make blueberries and blackberries dark purple. In tomatoes, this colour shows up mostly on the shoulders where the sun touches the fruit. It’s like the tomato got a little sun-kissed blush… only in deep indigo.

The first time I saw them ripening in my garden, I had to admit — they’re stunning. Almost too pretty to pick.

Not Just a Pretty Face

Here’s what surprised me even more: anthocyanins aren’t just about colour. They’re powerful antioxidants that help protect our bodies from everyday stress, support heart health, and may help calm inflammation.

So these tomatoes aren’t just dramatic — they’re doing something good for you, too.

And the Taste?

That was the real test.

I expected “nice.” Maybe “interesting.”
What I got was genuinely delicious.

Sweet. Balanced. Sometimes rich and slightly smoky. And yes — complex enough to satisfy a serious tomato lover.

Now I look forward to adding new antho varieties to my collection every season. They bring excitement to the garden, conversation to the table, and a little bit of magic to a simple salad.