Chocolate tomatoes are not only a nutritious food but also attractive because of their characteristic brown color and sweet, rich flavor. This type of tomato contains outstanding levels of vitamins and antioxidants, bringing many benefits from health support to the skin.

Chocolate tomatoes are tomatoes with brown skin like chocolate. Although this fruit is small in size, it contains high nutritional content. So are chocolate tomatoes good and what health benefits do they bring? Please read the detailed answer in the article below!

What are chocolate tomatoes?

Chocolate tomatoes or chocolate cherry tomatoes, are a small tomato variety, only about 1.5cm in diameter. This type of tomato originated from the Netherlands and Eastern European countries and is currently mainly grown in Da Lat. The special feature of chocolate tomatoes is the brown outer skin like chocolate with a rich, sweet flavor and outstanding aroma, different from other types of tomatoes.

Chocolate tomatoes are brown in color, sweet in taste and have a distinctive aroma.

Chocolate tomatoes are a nutritious food, bringing many health benefits thanks to their outstanding vitamin and antioxidant content. They have 3 times more vitamins than regular tomatoes and contain many powerful antioxidants, helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases, slowing the formation of cancer cells in the body.

Specifically, 150g of chocolate cherry tomatoes contain:

• Carbs: 6g (including 2g of fiber).
• Calories: 30 kcal.
• Water: 94%.

In addition, this fruit also provides a rich source of vitamins K, C and A. B vitamins such as B1, B6, B9 and trace minerals such as copper, calcium and phosphorus are also present in abundant amounts.

Health Benefits of Chocolate Tomatoes

Some of the amazing health benefits of chocolate tomatoes include:

Protect and improve eyesight

Chocolate tomatoes are a great source of nutrients for the eyes thanks to their high vitamin A, vitamin C, and important compounds such as lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These substances help protect the eyes from diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. At the same time, consuming chocolate tomatoes in a reasonable way can improve refractive problems, enhance vision, and maintain long-term eye health.

Chocolate tomatoes are a great source of nutrients for the eyes thanks to their high vitamin A content.

Strengthening the skeletal system

The abundant vitamin K and calcium content in chocolate tomatoes helps maintain the strength of the skeletal system. Vitamin K supports the absorption of calcium more effectively, while calcium is an indispensable ingredient to protect bones from the risk of osteoporosis and degeneration. Thanks to that, the body will become more flexible, supporting daily activities well.

Support cancer prevention

Like many other types of tomatoes, chocolate tomatoes contain high levels of antioxidants that help limit the development of free radicals – the main cause of cancer. In particular, the lycopene compound in tomatoes has the ability to reduce the risk of common cancers such as prostate, esophageal, stomach – rectal, pharyngeal, breast and cervical cancer. Moreover, lycopene is not lost during processing, so you can easily take advantage of tomatoes to prepare many dishes while still ensuring nutritional value.

Regulates Blood Pressure

The potassium content in chocolate tomatoes plays an important role in maintaining stable blood pressure. Potassium helps balance the pressure in the blood vessels, supports the elimination of excess sodium through the excretion mechanism, thereby reducing pressure on the arteries. This not only helps regulate blood pressure effectively but also protects your cardiovascular health in a sustainable way.

The potassium content in chocolate tomatoes helps maintain stable blood pressure.

Skin Beauty

The vitamins and antioxidants in chocolate tomatoes are the “secret” to keeping your skin healthy and radiant. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, helping the skin to be smooth and elastic, while lycopene protects the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight. Moreover, the nutrients in tomatoes also help even out skin tone, reduce aging and regenerate damaged skin cells. This is the reason tomatoes often appear in natural beauty and skin care products.

Weight loss support

Thanks to their low calorie content and high fiber content, chocolate tomatoes are considered a healthy food for those who want to control their weight. They not only make you feel full for a long time but are also easy to process into dishes such as juice, salad or soup. The natural sweetness of tomatoes helps you maintain your diet while still ensuring deliciousness.

Protects cardiovascular health

The lycopene compound in chocolate tomatoes is not only good for the eyes but also beneficial for the cardiovascular system. This compound helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, preventing the formation of plaque in the blood vessels. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke, providing comprehensive protection for your heart.

The lycopene compound in chocolate tomatoes is very beneficial for heart health.

How to preserve fresh chocolate tomatoes for a long time

To keep tomatoes fresh for a long time, you can apply some of the following preservation methods:

Store in the freezer

Unlike other vegetables and fruits, tomatoes, if not stored properly, can lose their freshness and characteristic sweetness. To keep tomatoes at their best quality, it is best to store them at a cool temperature with an ideal temperature of between 20 – 25 degrees Celsius. If you want to preserve tomatoes for a longer time, you can prepare and freeze tomatoes according to the following steps:

• After washing, the tomatoes need to have their stems removed and be completely dry. You can let them dry naturally or use a paper towel to dry them.
• Next, arrange the tomatoes in a storage box in layers, you can use wax paper between the layers to make it easier to take them out. Then, place the tomato box in the freezer for 15 – 30 minutes, until you see that the tomatoes are frozen.
• Next, transfer all the tomatoes into a ziplock bag, squeezing out all the air before sealing the bag. Store the bag of tomatoes in the freezer and use as needed.

Tomatoes can be stored in the freezer for about 2-3 months.

With this method, tomatoes can be preserved for 2-3 months. If freezing in large quantities, note the date on the zip bag for easy control, and use pre-frozen bags.

Make tomato sauce for longer preservation

To preserve tomatoes for longer, you can make tomato sauce. The steps are as follows:

• Wash the tomatoes and peel off the outer skin by cutting a cross into the bottom of the tomatoes, then put them in a pot of boiling water for about 20 seconds. After removing them, you will easily peel the tomatoes.
• Next, put the tomatoes in a blender with 4 tablespoons of salt, garlic and chili, then puree. Then, filter the mixture through a sieve to remove the tomato pulp.
• Put the pot on the stove, turn on low heat and add the tomato mixture and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce boils. During the cooking process, skim off the foam and stir well to prevent the sauce from burning.
• When the tomato sauce has boiled and reached the desired consistency, turn off the stove, let it cool and put it in glass jars. If you want to preserve it for a longer time, you can add a layer of boiled cooking oil to the sauce, this will help extend the preservation time.
• Cover the jar tightly and store the tomato sauce in the refrigerator.

Note: To keep the tomato sauce for a long time, you should only use one jar until it is finished, then open the remaining jars. This helps preserve the tomato sauce longer and avoid waste.

In general, chocolate tomatoes are quite small in size but full of nutritional value that is good for health with a sweet and refreshing flavor. With an abundant source of vitamins and powerful antioxidants, chocolate tomatoes help protect cardiovascular health, prevent cancer-related diseases and provide essential nutrients for the body. This fruit also helps maintain healthy skin, supports weight loss and improves eye health. Thanks to its outstanding nutritional value, chocolate tomatoes are worthy of being included in a healthy daily diet.