Morrisons’ Viola Cocktails, grown by Isle of Wight Tomatoes, have been named the ‘best overall supermarket vine tomato’ in a Guardian newspaper taste test.
The tomatoes, which are sold under Morrison’s ‘The Best’ range, were described as a ”medium-size, wonderfully deep maroon-coloured variety” by chef Tom Hunt in the paper’s weekend consumer review feature ‘The Filter’.
“Proof that delicious tomatoes can be grown in the UK. Quite sweet (Brix score of seven) with a low acidity and incredible, rounded umami flavour,” he wrote.
The Guardian rated products from a range of other producers (including Thanet Earth and various Dutch growers) and retailers (including Ocado, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s).
Using a Brix refractometer to measure the sugar content of the tomatoes in each pack, Hunt noted that sweetness varied hugely, “from a sometimes bland and watery Brix score of four to a satisfyingly sweet seven”.
He also found that the found the most flavoursome were often the richest in tone. The most highly rated tomatoes reported balanced sweetness with acidity, giving a fresh leaf aroma and creating a complex umami flavour.
Hunt also remarked that organic certification did not necessarily produce the flavour he had expected.
