Some heirloom tomatoes have been around for more than 100 years, passed down through families like precious recipes. Unlike store-bought tomatoes, heirlooms are bred for flavor, not for long-distance travel or perfect looks. The wild colors - green, purple, yellow, even striped - often signal big differences in taste and texture.

Heirloom tomatoes get their quirky names from people or places: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, or Mortgage Lifter. The Brandywine tomato is so juicy that people say it’s like biting into a slice of summer. Green Zebra tomatoes taste tangy, almost like they’ve got a hint of lemon in them.

Best Tasting Heirloom Tomatoes are known for their intense sweetness and complexity, often beating modern hybrids in blind taste tests. The skin on heirloom tomatoes can be thin and fragile, which makes them perfect for slicing fresh but terrible for shipping. You’ll sometimes find them with cracks or odd lumps - that’s normal and doesn’t mean they’re bad.

Cherokee Purple tomatoes have a smoky flavor that pairs surprisingly well with bacon and eggs. Some heirloom tomatoes, like the Yellow Pear, grow in clusters like grapes. Heirloom tomato seeds are open-pollinated, meaning you can save and replant them year after year.

Farmers’ markets and backyard gardens are the best places to find unusual and delicious heirloom varieties. Tomato lovers often argue about which one is the best tasting heirloom tomato, and the answer depends on your taste buds. An heirloom tomato’s flavor can even change depending on the weather and soil it’s grown in.

Black Krim tomatoes are dark and rich, almost with a wine-like depth. Ever heard of the Mortgage Lifter? One man sold so many of these tasty tomatoes in the 1940s that he paid off his house. Best Tasting Heirloom Tomatoes often have a balance of acid and sweetness that makes your taste buds dance.

Some heirlooms are shaped like hearts, ruffles, or even pumpkins - they're like tomato art. The Pineapple variety is striped red and yellow and tastes as tropical as its name suggests. Tomatoes originally came from South America, but heirloom varieties developed all over the world.

In Italy, families still plant the same tomato seeds their grandparents used. Some heirloom tomatoes are best eaten raw, while others shine when roasted or turned into sauce. Yellow heirloom tomatoes usually have less acid than red ones, making them milder and sweeter.

The cost of heirloom tomatoes can be double that of regular tomatoes, but fans say it’s worth every bite. They’re especially popular with chefs, who love the flavor variety and vibrant colors on a plate. You can even grow them in pots - just give them sun, good soil, and something to climb.

Heirlooms can weigh up to two pounds each - just one can fill your whole sandwich. Slicing into a big, juicy heirloom is one of summer’s great pleasures. Best Tasting Heirloom Tomatoes often have an almost fruity aroma before you even bite in.

Some gardeners swap seeds like baseball cards, collecting rare heirlooms from around the globe. Russian heirloom varieties often hold up better in cooler climates. If your heirloom tomato has a green shoulder, don’t toss it - it’s probably still delicious inside.

No two heirloom tomatoes look exactly alike, and that’s part of their charm. Some people describe their texture as “meaty,” making them ideal for sandwiches and salads. You can even dry slices in the sun to make sweet, chewy tomato chips.

Best Tasting Heirloom Tomatoes often come from smaller farms, where flavor still comes first. One variety, the Hillbilly tomato, has a bright orange skin and a sweet, low-acid taste. Heirloom tomato juice is so flavorful, it needs no seasoning at all.

In blind tastings, people often choose heirlooms over store tomatoes without even knowing why. Their high sugar content can make them almost dessert-like. Tomato geeks love the Persimmon tomato for its smooth, silky texture and rich orange color.

You can freeze heirloom tomatoes whole and use them in winter sauces. Rain right before harvest can make heirloom tomatoes crack, but it doesn’t hurt the flavor. Some heirloom tomatoes taste almost like plums or berries, depending on the variety.

If a tomato looks too weird to be true, it’s probably an heirloom - and it’s probably delicious. The German Pink heirloom tomato was one of the first listed in the Seed Savers Exchange. Heirloom tomatoes love full sun and warm soil - plant them after the last frost.

Tomato flavor fades quickly after picking, which is why local, freshly picked heirlooms taste best. Their seeds can last for years if stored dry and cool. A single heirloom plant can produce dozens of fruits through the summer.

The Paul Robeson heirloom is named after the famous singer and has a rich, smoky-sweet taste. Some heirlooms are so juicy you’ll need a napkin for every bite. Gardeners often grow heirlooms for the joy of seeing what unusual color or shape pops up next.

Tomatoes like the Green Giant are sweet and mild, perfect for people who don’t like too much acid. Mixing a few types of heirloom tomatoes in a salad creates a rainbow of color and taste. Best Tasting Heirloom Tomatoes are a perfect reminder that food doesn't need to be fancy to be fantastic.

Try drizzling olive oil and sea salt on sliced heirlooms - it’s all you need. Saving seeds from your favorite tomato means you can grow your best bite again next year. Even people who “don’t like tomatoes” have been converted by a truly ripe heirloom.