Tetra-cis-lycopene is a highly beneficial bioavailable form of lycopene, and exhibits a golden-orange or tangerine tomato colour. But not all tomatoes with this colour contain tetra-cis-lycopene, as this colour can also be expressed by beta-carotene. Hence it is necessary to chemically analyse each tomato variety to verify whether or not it contains tetra-cis-lycopene.
We provide here a list of all the varieties that we have had analysed and confirmed to have tetra-cis-lycopene to assist health conscious gardeners, healthy food advocates and researchers worldwide. The data has been obtained from a number of tomato growing seasons. The results below show the highest readings obtained up to 2020.
Tetra-cis-lycopene has been measured as mg per 100gm fresh weight.
| Variety Name | Tetra-cis-lyc | Plant characteristics * | Fruit characteristics † | Flavour ‡ | Sourced from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Brewer | 3.82 | Semi-determinate/semi-dwarf (about 1 metre +); early (70 days). | Medium-sized orange fruit. | Mild. | Tomatobob, Ohio, USA |
| Amana Orange | 5.04 | Indeterminate; matures 90 days. | Giant beefsteak. | Mild. | Tomato Growers, Florida, USA |
| Amish Orange Sherbert Heirloom | 5.36 | Indeterminate; high yield. | Beefsteak style; vibrant orange. | Sweet and mild flavour; low acid. | Amishland Heirloom Seeds |
| Amish Yellowish Orange Oxheart | 7.05 | Indeterminate; matures early; high yield. | Medium-large classic oxheart-shaped salmon-orange tomatoes. | Sweet and mild flavour. | Amishland Heirloom Seeds (no longer on their list) |
| Aunt Gerties Gold | 5.73 | Indeterminate; potato-leaf; mid-season 75-80 days. | Giant beefsteak style; golden tomatoes. | Good flavour. | Seed Savers Exchange member, Iowa, USA |
| B’Mato | 3.65 | Indeterminate | Medium to large slicing tomato. | Lots of flavour. | Seeds sourced in New Zealand |
| Barnes Mountain Orange (or Yellow) | 6.54 | Indeterminate. Very tall vines; matures 85-90 days. | Extra-large beefsteak; fleshy smooth-skinned orange tomatoes. | Rich ‘old-time’ tomato flavour. | Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Mansfield, Missouri, USA |
| Big Orange | 6.14 | Indeterminate; matures 75 days. | Large beefsteak; juicy fruit with low acid; skin peels like an orange. | Sweet flavour. | Seed Savers Exchange member, Iowa, USA |
| Big Yellow | 4.06 | Indeterminate; matures 80 days. | Large yellow-orange beefsteak style; sometimes slightly green-shouldered. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA | |
| Blazing Beauty | 4.95 | Determinate potato leaf variety | Oblate medium to medium large fruit. | Intense flavour with distinct tartness | |
| Bob Logan Tomato | 5.38 | Indeterminate | Medium to large slicing tomato. | Seeds sourced in New Zealand | |
| Brown’s Yellow Giant | 3.57 | Indeterminate; late (90 days); heavy yield. | Large/extra-large beefsteak. SSE Yearbook 2010 listed as Claude Brown’s Yellow Giant. | Mild, tropical fruity flavour. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Bursztyn | 3.34 | Compact determinate or semi-determinate; very early fruiting; high yield. | Medium plum-type yellow/orange tomatoes; the first fruits are seedless. | Good sweet flavour. | Tatiana’s Tomatobase, British Colombia, Canada |
| Chuck’s Golden (aka Chuck’s Yellow) | 5.47 | Indeterminate; matures 77 days (mid-season). | Extra-large to giant beefsteak. | Fleshy, sweet fruit with well-balanced flavours. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA (named for seedsman Chuck Wyatt) |
| Dad’s Sunset | 1.01 | Indeterminate. | A uniformly round large beefsteak; ‘glowing’ orange tomato. | Slightly tart, yet sweet, fruity flavour. | The Chilli Pepper Company (UK) |
| Djena Lees Golden Girl (named for Djena Lee, pronounced ‘Sheena’) | 5.23 | Indeterminate; mid-season (77 days). | Large beefsteak-style fleshy fruit; 1st prize at the Chicago Fair for many years in the 1920s. | Richly-flavoured with a well-balanced tangy sweetness. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Earl of Edgecomb | 2.52 | Indeterminate; smaller plants about 1 metre tall; 73 days, mid-season. | Large beefsteak style, 7cm diameter, globe-shaped fruits. | Well-balanced sweet and acidic flavour. | NZ heirloom sourced from Solana Seeds, Canada |
| Elbe | 4.31 | Indeterminate; tall vines (2 metres+); potato-leaf type (grandifolium); matures 85 days. | Large beefsteak style golden to bright orange tomatoes; German origin. | Intense flavour. | Solana Seeds, Canada |
| Elfie | 4.94 | Indeterminate; matures 85 days. | Large beefsteak style, golden-orange tomatoes. | Sweet flavour. | Tomatobob, Ohio, USA |
| Faribo Goldheart | 4.9 | Indeterminate, 81 days, late-season; prolific yield. | Large slicing tomato; round or oblate, not heart-shaped as the name would suggest. | Sweet with pleasant acidic finish; suits salads or canning. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA (originating from Farmer Seed and Nursery Co., Faribault, Minnesota in 1955) |
| Gary Ibsen’s Gold | 4 | Indeterminate; tall potato-leafed; high yield; mid-season (75 days). | Brilliant golden extra-large beefsteak-style tomatoes. | Fruity flavour with acid to balance. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA (originating from Boone County, West Virginia, USA in 1990) |
| Gary’s Golden Bear | 1.64 | Indeterminate; medium-sized plant. | Large, golden-orange juicy tomato. | Richly flavoured. | Trade Winds Fruit |
| Golden Bell | 7.61 | Indeterminate. | Bell-shaped bright orange medium sized fruit. | New Zealand chance seedling | |
| Golden Grape | 6.01 | Indeterminate. | Bite-sized golden fruits. | A bright and sweet variety. | Trade Winds Fruit |
| Golden Green | 7.12 | Indeterminate, matures 75 days, mid-season. | Golden/orange medium slicing tomato; firm fruit. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA | |
| Golden Light | 3.44 | Indeterminate | Roma style tomato, a selection of Orange Teardrop. | Pleasant flavour | HFCRT selection |
| Hawaiian Pineapple | 6.13 | Indeterminate; matures 93 days, late season. | Large golden-orange beefsteak-style fleshy fruit. | Fruity, sweet, hints of pineapple. | Tomatobob, Ohio, USA |
| Homer Fike’s Yellow Oxheart (grown by Mr. Homer Fike, USA) | 1.74 | Indeterminate; matures 89 days (late season). | Giant beefsteak-style, golden-orange heart-shaped fleshy fruit with few seeds. | Delicious fruit-sweet flavours. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Hurma Ukrainian | 5.76 | Indeterminate. | Medium, orange slicing tomato. | Sweet. | Amishland Heirloom Seeds |
| Ilse’s Orange Latvian (aka Ilse’s Yellow Latvian); named for Ilse Auzina. | 6.73 | Indeterminate; medium to high yield. | Large slicing tomato; golden-yellow fruits, some slightly oblong. Firm fleshy thick walls. | Pleasing flavour; suits canning or fresh. | Tatiana’s Tomatobase, British Colombia, Canada; offered SSE Yearbook in 1995 or earlier. |
| Kellogg’s Breakfast | 3.42 | Indeterminate; originated West Virginia, USA. | Orange beefsteak. | Very good flavour; sweet. | Seeds by Design |
| King’s Gold | 3.02 | Indeterminate. | Golden colour. | Koanga Institute, NZ | |
| Large Yellow Amish | 4.28 | Indeterminate, 78 days, mid-season. | Yellow-range large beefsteak-style fruit; apricot-coloured flesh. | Well-balanced sweetness and acid. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Loxton Lass | 4.44 | Determinate dwarf variety. | Orange, smooth, oblate-shaped medium to large fruit. | Well-balanced, delicious flavour. | |
| Mini Olga | 6.65 | Indeterminate. | Large cherries. | HFCRT selection | |
| Mini Orange | 3.36 | Indeterminate. | Vibrant orange large cherries; smooth texture. | Subtle pleasant earthy flavour. | Seeds by Design |
| Moonglow (Winner of SSE 2007 Heirloom Tomato Tasting) | 4.88 | Indeterminate; 85 days. | Smooth, bright-orange fruits with firm, dense flesh; high pectin; medium-sized slicer-style tomato. | ‘The best texture and flavour of any golden-yellow tomato.’ | Solana Seeds, Canada |
| Mountain Gold | 3.6 | Determinate; smaller plant with good yield. | Golden-orange; firm medium-large beefsteak tomato. | Mild, sweet flavour with a hint of acid. | Trade Winds Fruit |
| Old Wyandotte | 1.65 | Indeterminate, 90 days, late-season. | Large beefsteak-style golden tomatoes. | Well-balanced sweet and acid flavour. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Olga’s Round Golden Chicken Egg (aka Olga’s Round Yellow Chicken Egg) | 4.32 | Indeterminate, regular leaf plant produces a very heavy yield; matures 70 days, mid-season; excellent to grow. | Round to oval, golden, medium plum-type tomatoes with thick skin. | Sweet and slightly tart flavours. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA; brought from Russia to USA by Bill McDorman; introduced by Seeds Trust in early 90s. |
| Orange Beefsteak | 4.56 | Indeterminate, 79 days, mid-season; large yield. | Medium-large slicing tomato; golden orange. | ‘Delicious, well-balanced, sweet, fruity flavours.’ | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Orange Bourgoin | 2.62 | Indeterminate. | Orange cherry tomato. | ‘Juicy, fruity, mild sweet with remarkable taste.’ | The Organic Gardening Catalogue, UK |
| Orange Crimea | 8.04 | Indeterminate; late-maturing. | Large peach-shaped, deep orange fruits; tendency for green shoulders. | Very sweet and juicy. | Sand Hill Preservation Centre |
| Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge | 5.42 | Indeterminate. | Medium size vibrant tangerine-orange fruit with purple blotches on the shoulders. | Mildly sweet. | Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Mansfield, Missouri, USA |
| Orange Plum | 1.84 | Indeterminate; very heavy yield. | Small, orange, plum-shaped tomatoes. | Sweet flavour with slightly tart finish. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Orange Queen | 2.41 | Open indeterminate vines; early, 70 days. | Bright orange; beefsteak. | Mild flavour. | Seeds by Design |
| Orange Roma | 4.62 | Indeterminate; early. | Medium slicer; salmon-orange colour. | Pleasant flavour. | Seeds sourced in New Zealand. |
| Orange Strawberry | 4.14 | Vigorous, indeterminate, regular-leaf plant with average yields. | Strawberry-shaped, bright-orange large oxheart with a distinct tip; fleshy fruit, few seeds. | Sweet, rich, complex taste. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA; offered in SSE Yearbook in 1995 |
| Orange Teardrop | 5.31 | Indeterminate. | Mid-orange coloured ovoid-shaped fruit. | Flavourful; well-balanced acid and sweet. | Seeds by Design |
| Orange Valencia (named after the oranges of that colour) | 4.6 | Good for cooler climates. | Smooth, firm texture; fleshy without a large number of seeds. | Well-balanced acidic and sweet flavours. | Sourced in New Zealand from Niche Seeds who are no longer in business. |
| Peg’s Round Orange (named for Peg Spencer) | 1.08 | Indeterminate; matures 90 days; disease-resistant; high yield. | Medium-large slicing tomato; orange. | Sweet, low-acid. | Southern Exposure Seed Exchange |
| Persimmon (said to be grown by Thomas Jefferson) | 5.24 | Indeterminate, regular leaf plant; high yield. | Named for the colour of the fruit; extra-large, beefsteak-style fleshy, few seeds. | Very sweet; excellent flavour. | |
| Roughwood Golden Plum | 3.82 | Indeterminate, thick, green foliage; mid-season. | Round bright golden, plum-sized fruits, thick, paste-like flesh. | Creamy texture, good flavour. | Sand Hill Preservation Centre |
| Russian Persimmon | 3.1 | Indeterminate; 75-80 days. Very productive. | Orange fruits, some more smooth and some are ruffled. | Excellent sweet flavour. | Tatiana’s Tomatobase, British Colombia, Canada |
| Sakharniy Zeltiy | 3.42 | Indeterminate; high yield; early for a large tomato. | Medium-large golden-orange fruits. | Tones of sweet mixed with tart. | |
| Sibirische Orange | 4.56 | Indeterminate. | Association Kokopelli (formerly Terre de Semences Organic seeds) | ||
| Small Lap | 2.87 | Semi-determinate, mid-season; very heavy producer. | Orange, slightly oblate medium to large slicer. | Sand Hill Preservation Centre | |
| Small Sweet Orange | 3.69 | Indeterminate; grows well in all NZ climate zones. | Golden-orange cherry tomatoes. | Very sweet and tender. | Koanga Institute, NZ |
| Small Sweet Orange V.3 | 4.68 | Indeterminate. | Larger selection from ‘Small Sweet Orange’, both juicy and fleshy. | Gorgeous tomato flavour. | HFCRT selection |
| Summer Cider Apricot | 6.15 | Indeterminate; potato-leaf; matures early. | Large orange beefsteak-style with creamy orange flesh. | Sweet flavour; apricot aroma. | Amishland Heirloom Seeds |
| Tangella | 6.13 | Disease resistant, highly productive. | Clusters of 5cm diameter round, bright-orange fruit; blemish-free. | Fragrant with a snappy tang; earthy notes. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Tangerine | 5.82 | Indeterminate. | Large, well-shaped, orange slicer. | Juicy; mild flavour; not acidic. | Seed Savers Exchange, Iowa, USA |
| Tobolsk (100-year-old heirloom tomato) | 5.73 | Indeterminate; origin Russia. | Large, round, light golden-orange slicer, 7cm diameter. | Flavours well-balanced between acid and sweet. | |
| Turkey Champ | 4.26 | Indeterminate; regular leaf; late. | Large, golden/orange globe tomato. | Sand Hill Preservation Centre | |
| West Virginia | 5.05 | Indeterminate, regular leaf plant. | Extra-large/giant golden-orange beefsteak tomatoes. | Fruity/sweet flavours. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Yellow Brandywine Platfoot Strain (named for Gary Platfoot, Ohio, USA) | 4.15 | Indeterminate potato-leaf variety maturing 90 days (late season); heavy yielding. | Large golden beefsteak-style tomatoes; heavily-ribbed shoulders. | Intense sweet flavours balanced with a slight tartness. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| Yellow Oxheart | 2.58 | Indeterminate; vigorous vines; late (90-95 days). | Medium-large, yellow-orange, heart-shaped fruit. | Fleshy yet juicy. | |
| Yoder’s Yellow German | 3.4 | Indeterminate; mid-season; named for Yoder family. | Gold (not yellow) extra-large to giant beefsteak. | Flavourful and fleshy. | Tomatofest, Little River, California, USA |
| * | Indeterminate tomato plants grow from spring until frost, producing fruit on long vines that can grow 2 metres or taller. Determinate plants bear in a shorter time, on shorter vines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ‡ | Flavour descriptions are subjective and vary with growing conditions. Those in quotation marks may have been generated for promotional purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
