A new tomato with very high levels of lycopene is being relaunched across Tesco stores on Monday.
The Moruno, which was developed exclusively for Tesco, contains double the level of lycopene - which was recently linked to reducing the risk of prostate cancer - than other tomato varieties and has a higher vitamin C content.
The variety was originally launched by Tesco in November, at the same time as it released the specialist Sugardrop tomato into stores.
Tesco tomato buyer Ashleigh McWilliams said: “Tomatoes are already considered superfoods because they have so many health-giving qualities.
“However, the Moruno, because of its very high lycopene and vitamin C levels, may actually qualify as being the first super superfood. The health benefits of antioxidants such as lycopene in our diets have attracted a lot of positive attention from both the medical and culinary worlds. Functional foods such as tomatoes have naturally high levels of lycopene - however, this naturally bred variety has double the level of standard ones.
“But besides its exceptional nutritional content, the Moruno is also notable for its very sweet taste.”
The Moruno is grown on the Costa Calida in the Spanish region of Murcia by specialist grower Paloma, which also produces the Sugardrop tomato. Moruno took two years to develop and is the result of cross breeding 2,000 different tomato varieties.
McWilliams added: “The other great news about the Moruno is that it tastes great and has thick, juicy flesh.”
Tesco Finest Moruno on the Vine cost £1.50 for a 280g pack.
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