Chocolate Sprinkles Cherry Tomatoes
Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Chocolate Sprinkles is a hybrid cherry tomato about one inch in size. Its glossy red skin is overlaid with dark green stripes, giving it a unique chocolate-like coloring. The fruits are firm, and they offer a full-bodied, sweet tomato flavor with a high brix level (a measurement of sugar content). The indeterminate Chocolate Sprinkles tomato plants can reach five to seven feet tall, and they continue to produce high yields of the crack-resistant fruit in thick trusses all season up until frost. They are also known to have good disease resistance and a long harvest window.
Seasons/Availability
Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomatoes are available early summer.
Current Facts
Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomatoes, like all tomato varieties, are a member of the nightshade family, alongside the potato and eggplant. Tomatoes, originally termed Solanum lycopersicum, are botanically referred to as Lycopersicon esculentum, although modern studies are encouraging a return to the original classification. Tomatoes are further categorized in subgroups that represent variations within the tomato species, referred to as their cultivar: shorthand for cultivated variety, or what growers simply call a “variety.” Therefore, Cherry tomato varieties are more specifically called Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme.
Nutritional Value
Tomatoes offer a wide range of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, and are known to support healthy eyesight, reduced blood pressure, cardiovascular health and more. Tomatoes are also known for containing the particularly potent antioxidant lycopene, which is found in its highest concentration in tomatoes and is responsible for the red pigmentation. Lycopene has been studied for its role in preventing heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and certain types of cancer, such as prostate, breast, lung, bladder, ovaries, colon, and pancreatic cancer.
Applications
The rich, bite-sized Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomatoes are perfect for snacking on fresh off the vine, and their unique look is great for incorporating into summer dishes, such as a fresh caprese salad. They are delicious on their own, but can be enhanced with fresh herbs and spices and soft cheeses. Try pairing with basil, rosemary, fennel, oregano, parsley, cilantro, chives, garlic, mint, thyme, red pepper flakes, and tarragon. Store Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomatoes at room temperature until ripe, after which refrigeration can slow the process of decay.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
PanAmerican Seed is an internationally recognized flower and vegetable breeder based out of West Chicago, Illinois in the United States, though they have research facilities in North and South America, the Pacific Rim, and Europe. They are known for producing quality high-performing cultivars, like the Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomato.
Geography/History
Chocolate Sprinkles cherry tomatoes were bred by PanAmerican Seed circa 2015. They reportedly perform well in USDA Zones 3 – 9, and are recommended for planting directly into the garden outside as opposed to starting indoors and transplanting.
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