Kumato® Tomatoes
Estimated Inventory, 10 lbs : 1.58
This item was last sold on : 05/07/25
Description/Taste
Kumato® tomatoes are a small to medium-sized varietal, averaging 80 to 120 grams in weight, and have a round, oblate, to slightly flattened shape. The tomatoes are capped with long, slender, and tapered dark green leaves, and the skin is smooth, semi-thick, and taut. The surface also has a faint sheen and ripens from the inside out, their color changing naturally. The variety transitions through three main color stages, beginning with green, brown, and finally red-brown, and Kumato® tomatoes are edible in all stages. Underneath the surface, the dark red flesh is aqueous, firm, and fleshy, with a crisp, tender, and succulent texture. The tomatoes also encase chambers filled with small yellow seeds suspended in a gelatinous, somewhat translucent liquid. Kumato® tomatoes are aromatic when ripe and are edible raw. The variety is known for its high sugar content, creating a balanced sweet, sharp, and complex savory flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Kumato® tomatoes are available year-round.
Current Facts
Kumato® tomatoes, botanically classified as Solanum lycopersicum, are a specialty variety belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The tomatoes are a type of indeterminate hybrid, meaning they grow on vining plants that can reach up to two meters in height. The variety was commercially released in the 21st century and is trademarked by Syngenta Seeds. Only licensed growers approved by Syngenta are allowed to grow the tomatoes, and they must follow strict cultivation guidelines to ensure quality, flavor, and appearance are being met. Kumato® tomatoes have a long shelf life and are unique as they are edible in all stages of ripening. There are three main ripening stages, and they are generally categorized as green, brown, and dark brown-red. Each stage has a slightly different flavor and is recommended for culinary purposes to fit that taste. Kumato® tomatoes are gaining notoriety for their distinct coloring and complex flavoring. The tomatoes are sold as a premium variety in retail markets and are utilized in a wide array of fresh and cooked culinary preparations. Beyond the original Kumato® tomatoes, Syngenta also released Mini Kumato® tomatoes, a cherry-type tomato.
Nutritional Value
Kumato® tomatoes are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, magnesium to control nerve functions, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, and vitamin C to boost the immune system. The variety also contains fiber to regulate the digestive tract, calcium to build strong bones and teeth, B vitamins to help the body generate new DNA, and other nutrients, including vitamin K, iron, vitamin D, and folate. The pigmented nature of tomatoes is partially created by lycopene, a natural carotenoid found in the skin and flesh. Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects the cells against the damage caused by free radicals and gives the tomatoes their dark red-brown hue.
Applications
Kumato® tomatoes have a sweet, savory, and tangy taste suited for raw or cooked preparations. The variety is popularly eaten out of hand and can be sprinkled with salt or drizzled in olive oil for enhanced flavoring. Kumato® tomatoes are also sliced and served on caprese, chopped for bruschetta, tossed into salads, or mixed into grain bowls. Try adding Kumato® tomatoes into salsas and dips, or layer the tomatoes into sandwiches. In addition to fresh preparations, Kumato® tomatoes can be incorporated into omelets, simmered into sauces, and roasted with meats, often paired with peppers. The variety can be used in any recipe calling for savory tomatoes and is cooked into pasta and gratin, added to chilis, sliced over pizza, or mixed into casseroles. The tomatoes can also be pickled as a tangy condiment. Kumato® tomatoes pair well with meats such as pork, beef, and poultry, seafood including prawns, crab, fish, and lobster, herbs such as thyme, basil, and parsley, and spices including paprika, nutmeg, and cumin. Whole, unwashed Kumato® tomatoes will keep for 2 to 5 days, depending on maturity, and should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark location. It is recommended to keep the tomatoes stem-side down in storage.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Kumato® is a protected brand name for the tomato variety originally known as Olmeca and SX 387. The variety is also known as one of the first commercial brown tomatoes released to international markets. Luis Ortega, Spanish grower and creator of Kumato® tomatoes, had a passion for cultivating flavorful tomatoes and was initially inspired to grow the fruits after visiting his father’s fields. It is said Ortega saw tomatoes growing at the edge of his father’s fields in Almeria, Spain, and noticed that the fruits had a different coloring, texture, and flavor due to receiving less water. After this experience, Ortega began cultivating tomatoes and sought to develop fruits with a strong flavor, eventually resulting in Kumato® tomatoes. The variety is also known under the name Rosso Bruno in some Canadian and American markets.
Geography/History
Kumato® tomatoes were developed in Aguilas, Spain, in the late 20th century. Spanish grower Damien Flores created the variety in the 1970s for Syngenta Seeds, an international agritech company from Switzerland, and spent over six years breeding the tomatoes. It is said Syngenta Seeds desired to create a variety that would have an improved flavor and texture and is edible in all stages of ripeness. Much of the history of the tomato is unknown, but it is thought the variety is a hybrid. There are some claims that one of the parent varieties of the tomato was developed from a variety belonging to Lycorpersican cheesmanii and was taken from the Galapagos. The other parent is thought to be a type of black tomato native to Europe. Kumato® tomatoes were released as a commercial variety in the early 21st century in the United Kingdom, and several years later, the variety was licensed to resellers in the United States and patented in 2009. Today, Kumato® tomatoes are grown and sold through select partners of Syngenta Seeds in North America, Europe, and Australia. The variety is exclusively licensed to commercial growers and is branded as a club variety, meaning it will not be offered to home gardeners or the general public for cultivation. When available, Kumato® tomatoes are sold through select grocers, distributors, and high-end retailers.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Starlite Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-358-9766 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| 31ThirtyOne by Deckman | San Diego CA | 619-495-9814 |
| Donation 3 | San Diego | 619-295-3172 |
| Eddie V's La Jolla - EV# 8511 | La Jolla CA | 858-459-5500 |
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