If you buy the variety most often found in American grocery stores (usually labeled as Roma tomatoes), they're terrible. Try the variety labeled as "tomatoes on the vine" (four-digit produce code 4664, which I know from memory, having punched it in to so many self-checkout scanners over the years). They're actually juicy and tasty the way tomatoes should be. Avoid Roma tomatoes, they're cardboard masquerading as a tomato.
"Globe" tomatoes are much, much more common as generics in American supermarkets. Sometimes also "Beefsteak" variety. Roma tomatoes are almost exclusively used in making sauce.
What are they called, then? Since I took a job overseas over ten years ago, I haven't been in American grocery stores much. What's the "normal" variety called? I distinctly remember Roma being the cheapest, and also worst-tasting, variety, and learned to buy the "on the vine" style instead, but those are the only two that stuck in my memory. What is the one I'm forgetting about?
Comments
yes, American tomatoes are generally terrible
source, am Romanian.
If you buy the variety most often found in American grocery stores (usually labeled as Roma tomatoes), they're terrible. Try the variety labeled as "tomatoes on the vine" (four-digit produce code 4664, which I know from memory, having punched it in to so many self-checkout scanners over the years). They're actually juicy and tasty the way tomatoes should be. Avoid Roma tomatoes, they're cardboard masquerading as a tomato.
"Globe" tomatoes are much, much more common as generics in American supermarkets. Sometimes also "Beefsteak" variety. Roma tomatoes are almost exclusively used in making sauce.
Roma are not the “normal” tomatoes sold fresh in American grocery stores.
What are they called, then? Since I took a job overseas over ten years ago, I haven't been in American grocery stores much. What's the "normal" variety called? I distinctly remember Roma being the cheapest, and also worst-tasting, variety, and learned to buy the "on the vine" style instead, but those are the only two that stuck in my memory. What is the one I'm forgetting about?
"Beefsteak" tomatoes are perhaps the most common (and the worst).
Roma have...some flavor. Campari (the ones on the vine) and cherry/grape tomatoes are better, but still mediocre.