We had a tomato tasting. 5 judges tasted in following order --
1) very ripe Zarnitsa (Winter Wonderland)
2) ripe DonomaterF2#1 (Winter Wonderland)
3) ripe DonomaterF2#3 (upstairs -- warmer, less light, beset with Spidermites)
4) 2 fruits under ripe Spudakee (Cool Gang)
5) very ripe Kumato (store bought grown in Mexico)
Tasting was casual and judges were asked to simply comment with their impressions, though not everyone did.
1) Zarnitsa had a OK tomato flavor but ended with an acid bite.
-- "It's OK but I don't love it. It might be good in a salad"
-- "It's sour"
-- "It doesn't have a long flavor"
2) DonomaterF2#1 was somewhat better with no acid bite
-- "Its sweeter than the first one, but doesn't have as much flavor"
-- "Donomater, meh" (guess who?
)
-- "Flavor is short and the texture is almost mealy"
-- "Oh, this one isn't the same as the last one?"
3) DonomaterF2#3 started out tasting good, but then there was a dissatisfied expectation. I almost wished it had an acid after bite.
-- "This one is juicier, but something is missing."
-- "Do I have to eat this one?"
-- "This one has even shorter flavor, but I like it better than the last one)
..... Two extra pieces were left uneaten. But judges1 and 2 asked if these Donomaters might taste better grown in the summer. And they said they might eat the remaining uncut #1 and #3 another day.
4) Spudakee had a much fuller flavor and despite underripe state, overshadowed the first three with mouth watering flavor
-- "This one tastes the best! Juicy! Delicious!"
-- "Spudakee! Yay! Can I have more?"
-- "Very long in flavor. This is nice."
-- "Oh! This one is very good. Can I have another one?"
-- "Very, very tasty"
..... After the plate made the round, judge3 took back the plate and ate the last remaining two pieces as well as shoveled the seeds and gel that fell out on the plate into his mouth. Good thing I didn't need to save those seeds....
5) Kumato was a very interesting way to end the tasting. Especially after the Spudakee with plentiful green gel that wouldn't stay on the somewhat cavernous cut pieces and had fallen all over the plate, which made for a rather messy and unattractive presentation. Kumato was the largest fruit, and the comparatively large, dense cut pieces held onto the minimum gel seeds, with a gorgeous color mixture of mahogany and garnet in the flesh. Hands down, Kumato was the best looking tomato and generated an almost palpable flurry of anticipation. But I'll withhold my tasting comment and let the others say it....
-- (making a face) "Bleah. This doen't have any flavor."
-- "...."
-- "OMG"
-- "...and it looks so beautiful...
"