British tomato varieties

British tomatoes are a powerhouse of nutrition packed full of flavour, each variety with its own unique taste.

There are loads of British tomato varieties you can find throughout the country in supermarkets, green grocers and market stalls.

A few of our favourite British tomato varieties

Classic – your familiar favourite. Fantastic all-rounder, great for salads, grilling, baking or frying

Cherry – small and sweet. Great in a salad and a particular favourite of kids. Can be found in red, golden, orange and yellow
Cocktail – slightly larger than cherry toms but just as sweet. Delicious raw or cooked
Plum and baby plum – distinctive oval shape. Fleshy texture means they’re ideal for the barbecue and a natural choice for pasta dishes and pizzas
Beef – big and meaty. Excellent for stuffing and baking whole

Vine tomatoes

Also known as truss tomatoes, these are toms that are sold still attached to the fruiting stem. Not to be confused with vine-ripened tomatoes, which are tomatoes that are picked when ripe – this gives optimum flavour but makes the fruit more perishable.

All British tomatoes are vine-ripened because they have only a short distance to travel to market. Imported tomatoes usually have to be picked less ripe to withstand the lengthy journey by road or sea – and firmer, long-life varieties are commonly used.