A versatile, healthy ingredient
 | Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant. It has potential cancer prevention properties. Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that cooked tomatoes (in sauces, soups and even ketchup) make more lycopene available than raw tomatoes. |
| When first brought to England, the tomato was named Lycopersicum (Wolf Peach) |
| The first British tomato was cultivated by Patrick Bellow of Castletown in 1554 |
| Average UK consumption of tomatoes is 5kg (11 lb) per annum |
| First cultivated in South America |
| The 16th century Bourbons thought that the newly imported tomato was the apple from the Garden of Eden. They believed it to be an aphrodisiac and decided to ban it... naturally, black market trade immediately boomed! |
Copyright © Laurence D. Watkins (brain@brainsurgery.co.uk) except as stated in the Copyright and other notices
Last update: 03 October 2004