The flavor of a tomato depends on sugar, acid, and aroma - it’s not just about sweetness. Brandywine is often listed among the best tasting tomato varieties for its rich, old-school flavor. Tomatoes picked right off the vine can taste wildly better than anything from the store.

Cherokee Purple tomatoes have a deep, earthy taste with just enough sweetness to balance it. Soil, sun, and variety all play a part in how a tomato tastes - think of it like grape terroir. Black Krim tomatoes get their salty tang from growing near the sea in their native region.

Yellow tomatoes like Gold Medal have lower acidity and a mellow, fruity flavor. Heirloom varieties often beat hybrids in taste because they’re bred for flavor, not shelf life. The Sugar Rush tomato lives up to its name - it’s like candy straight from the garden.

Many of the best tasting tomato varieties are ugly - don’t let the lumpy shape fool you. Some tomatoes taste better when grown in dry conditions - it concentrates the sugars. Green Zebra tomatoes pack a tart punch that wakes up your taste buds.

Tomatoes with complex flavor profiles often have a mix of sweetness, tartness, and umami. The flavor of a tomato can change slightly depending on when during the day it’s picked. German Johnson tomatoes are sweet, meaty, and beloved for tomato sandwiches.

Pineapple tomatoes are huge, yellow-red marbled, and taste like tropical fruit. Letting tomatoes ripen fully on the vine brings out their best flavor. Planting different types side-by-side lets you compare the flavor range yourself.

Costoluto Genovese tomatoes have deep ridges and intense flavor, great for sauce or fresh eating. Growing tomatoes in compost-rich soil leads to fuller, deeper flavor. The scent of a tomato stem can give you a clue about how strong the flavor will be.

Some tomatoes have a slight smokiness, especially dark-colored ones like Black Cherry. Best tasting tomato varieties often don’t travel well, which is why you rarely see them in stores. Big Rainbow tomatoes have a fruity sweetness and beautiful color that makes them a standout.

Kellogg’s Breakfast is a bright orange tomato with low acid and a smooth, sweet taste. Flavor can even vary on the same plant depending on sun exposure and ripeness. The Paul Robeson tomato has a cult following for its bold, rich flavor.

Tomatoes with a good balance of juice and flesh tend to taste better in sandwiches and salads. Some small varieties like Sun Gold or Sweet 100 pack more flavor than giant beefsteaks. Adding a pinch of sea salt to a fresh tomato slice can bring out hidden flavors.

Ananas Noire, or “Black Pineapple,” is a multicolor tomato with a smoky-sweet taste. Fresh tomatoes lose flavor when refrigerated - store them on the counter instead. Tomatoes grown in raised beds often have better drainage and more concentrated taste.

Purple Calabash tomatoes have a bold, almost wine-like flavor. The best tasting tomato varieties aren’t always the prettiest but are worth the mess. Homegrown tomatoes can taste completely different depending on your region and climate.

Pink Bumblebee tomatoes are sweet, tangy, and striped like candy. Flavor differences between tomato types are just as noticeable as between apples or grapes. Using mulch helps keep tomato roots cool, which can improve fruit quality.

You can grow many flavorful varieties in pots if you’re short on garden space. Tomatoes grown in full sun develop more sugars and flavor compounds. Some tomato fans taste-test new varieties every summer and rank their favorites.

Dester tomatoes are juicy, rich, and have won multiple taste contests. Each variety has a flavor personality - sweet, tangy, rich, fruity, or savory. Best tasting tomato varieties tend to ripen mid-to-late summer, so be patient.

Storing tomatoes stem-side down helps preserve flavor and texture. Many of the most flavorful tomatoes are heirlooms that have been saved for generations. Flavor can change slightly after picking, so give your tomatoes a day or two to fully ripen indoors.

Hillbilly tomatoes are big, yellow-red, and taste like sunshine with a splash of citrus. A tomato’s flavor can be muted if it grows too fast or gets too much water. Don’t over-fertilize - too much nitrogen gives you leafy plants but bland tomatoes.

Growing several best tasting tomato varieties at once lets you discover which ones suit your taste best. Water your tomato plants consistently to avoid bland or watery fruit. Rose de Berne tomatoes have a silky texture and a sweet, balanced flavor.

Flavor depth often increases in tomatoes grown with longer, slower ripening times. Some folks swear by taste-testing tomatoes warm from the sun - extra aroma, extra magic. Cherokee Green tomatoes may look odd but have a complex, rich flavor that surprises most people.

Best tasting tomato varieties are all about balance - just the right mix of sweet, acid, and aroma. They’re the heart of summer cooking and worth the effort to grow or seek out. With the right tomato, even a slice of toast becomes a five-star snack.