TOP FIVE FACTS ABOUT TOMATOES

With British Tomato Week taking place this week (19-25 May), here are just a few facts to get you started…

1. There are five different varieties of commercial British tomato:

• Classic tomatoes (round, good for salads, grilling, baking or frying and used as a cooking ingredient for soups and sauces)

• Cherry on the vine tomatoes (smallest, sweet concentrated flavour good for salads)

• Plum and baby plum tomatoes (oval, firm flesh, natural choice for pizzas and pasta dishes and barbecue)

• Cocktail vine tomatoes (medium sized tomatoes, ideal for salads, sandwiches)

• Large vine ripened tomatoes (ideal for stuffing and roasting)

2. As tomatoes are a sub-tropical fruit and dislike the cold, they should be stored at room temperature. Storing them in the fridge impairs natural ripening and flavour.

3. Tomato pulp is very good for the skin. It refreshes, tones and aids circulation and will restore acidity to the face after cleansing. To make a tomato face pack, make a paste by mixing tomato pulp with yoghurt. Apply to the face and leave for 10-15 minutes, then wash off.

4. The tomato's size should be a good guide to its culinary use. Large ones are good for stuffing and smaller ones for garnishing or using whole in salads. Natural herb partners for tomatoes are mint, parsley, basil and oregano.

5. Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, lycopene and flavanoids (the latter is also found in red wine and tea). Tomatoes also contain potassium, linked to lowering blood pressure, calcium- vital for healthy bones and teeth- and other mineral salts.