Tomatoes: Some Facts
It is said, that if an Italian cuts themself, there comes a little blood mixed with tomato juice.

The tomato that is central in Italian cooking, came to Italy from the Peruvian Andes of South America, by way of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

The tomato was thought first thought to be an aphrodisiac. The French called it the pomme d’amour (love apple). 

The tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable, and at first was initially regarded as toxic.

Tomato plants thrived in the climate of Southern Italy, and in the 18th century, were incorporated into the region’s cuisine.

Naples was the birthplace of tomato sauce and tomato-based recipes.

Because it was easy to grow, the tomato became an integral part of “cucina povera”, the food of the poor, whose diets were mostly vegetarian.

Your local supermarket might only have three or four types, but there are approximately 10,000 varieties worldwide.