Piatta di Bernezzo is another highly productive and flavourful Italian heirloom that we are happy to have in the garden. Originating in the Bernezzo region of northern Italy, Piatta di Bernezzo produces loads of great tasting flattened, beefsteak-type tomatoes. Right from the seedling stage the plants were robust and healthy looking, mature plants are about 4.5 ft tall.
Our tasting notes describe Piatta’s flavour as a wonderful combination of acid, tangy and fruity with a superb meaty texture. This versatile tomato is great for fresh eating in salads or for making sauces.
A bit more — the problem of flavourless tomatoes (and the connection between flavour and ‘bioactives’ in tomatoes):
Over the years, we have found that Italian heirlooms like Piatta di Bernezzo are some of the most flavourful tomatoes we can eat. Whereas supermarket tomatoes some of the least flavourful. What is going on? A 2023 paper titled “The Dissection of Tomato Flavor” published in the journal Frontiers of Plant Science, explains the change that has happened to tomato flavour. The authors explain how tomatoes on supermarket shelves haven’t been selected for flavour, but for other traits, such as, their ability to travel long distances or uniformity in shape. Your tastebuds are not wrong; grocery store tomatoes are not as flavourful as they were in the past. The authors also point out that tomato flavour and the level of ‘bioactives’ are correlated.
- ‘Bioactives’ in plants are beneficial plant compounds, also called ‘functional molecules’, that are health promoting compounds, such as, vitamins and antioxidants, which maintain human cell health and protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
In other words: low levels of ‘bioactives’ in tomatoes and poor tomato flavour are directly correlated. Not only are you eating a flavourless tomato, but you are also eating a tomato that is low in important, health-promoting bioactives.
Check out Riccio di Parma (on the website) for more information about ‘bioactives’ in Italian heirlooms. And see the ‘Old Gold/High-Crimson’ tomatoes we offer which taste sweet and rich and are high in the ‘bioactive’ lycopene. Now it makes sense why they taste so good — they were selected to have high levels of lycopene.
So, although we do not know the nutritional profile of Piatta di Bernezzo the direct correlation between flavour and bioactives, suggests you should follow your tastebuds!
__________
Our original seed source was a seed saving organization in France.
_________
How to Grow Tomatoes? Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed 5mm (¼ inch) deep. Transplant after the danger of frost has passed/later spring.
