Types of Tomatoes: A Tommalier’s Flavor and Pairing Guide

Not all tomatoes taste the same. Meet five SUNSET® tomatoes, from candy-sweet to bold and balanced, with flavor notes and the best way to use each.

I used to think all tomatoes tasted the same. Then I got certified as a Tommalier.

At the Fresh Air Retreat, I worked through a five-tomato flight with SUNSET® and walked away with an official certificate (yes, I’m now qualified to have opinions about your caprese). 

So what’s a Tommalier? Think sommelier, but for tomatoes. Wine has sommeliers because aroma, acidity, texture, and finish all matter, and someone has to teach people how to notice them. The same is true of tomatoes. Instead of grabbing whichever one is closest and moving on, you slow down, look at it, smell it, taste it, and talk about it.

Here’s the biggest takeaway: “tomato” is not one flavor. Below is my field guide to the five tomatoes in the flight, with what each one tastes like and exactly where it shines, so your next grocery run gets a lot easier.

Quick Guide: Which SUNSET® Tomato Should You Buy?

• Best for snacking and crisp salads: Lolli Bombs
• Best for cheese plates and appetizers: Honey Bombs
• Best for charcuterie boards and finishing dishes: Tomato Branch
• Best for dips and light cheeses: Sugar Bombs
• Best eaten on their own: Flavor Bombs

How to Taste a Tomato Like a Tommalier

Before the flight, here’s the method. You can do this at home with any tomato:

1. Look. Notice the color and shape. Golden, red-orange, and deep red all hint at different flavors.
2. Smell. Bring it up to your nose. Some tomatoes smell sweet and fragrant, others more savory.
3. Taste. Pay attention to sweetness first, then acidity.
4. Feel the texture. Is it juicy, soft, or crunchy?
5. Notice the finish. What lingers after you swallow?
6. Think pairing. Would this be better in a salad, on a cheese board, or all by itself?

Lolli Bombs: Candy-Like Sweetness

These sun-kissed golden-yellow cherry tomatoes are the ones that made people at my table go “wait, what?” The sweetness is bright and candy-like, and it lingers.

• Flavor notes: Bright, candy-like sweetness
• Best uses: Crisp salads and easy afternoon snacking
• Tommalier tip: Put them in a bowl on the counter and watch them disappear.

Honey Bombs: Honeyed and Floral

Rich and golden with a warm red-orange hue, Honey Bombs™ look the way their name sounds. They have a sweet, fragrant aroma, a honey-like pop of flavor, and a delightful crunch at the finish. They come on the vine.

• Flavor notes: Honeyed, with soft floral notes
• Best uses: Cheese plates and elevated appetizers
• Tommalier tip: Pair them with a soft cheese and let the floral notes come through.

Tomato Branch: The Showpiece

These micro-grape tomatoes are picked and presented on a single branch, which makes them the most elegant tomato in the flight. Despite their size, they deliver outsized juicy sweetness and a delicate, satisfying crunch.

• Flavor notes: Vine-fresh, juicy sweetness
• Best uses: Charcuterie boards, stylish snacks, or a finishing touch on any dish
• Tommalier tip: Leave the branch intact when you serve them. It does half the styling for you.

Sugar Bombs: Sweet With Big Crunch

These deep red grape tomatoes are ripened and packed on the vine, and the sweetness is off the charts. They’re crisp, refreshing, and have a luscious finish.

• Flavor notes: Very sweet and refreshing, with a big crunch
• Best uses: Fresh salads, with creamy dips, or alongside light cheeses
• Tommalier tip: The crunch makes them a great dipper for anything creamy.

Flavor Bombs: Bold and Balanced

This was the one with the most structure. Flavor Bombs® are vibrant red, on-the-vine cherry tomatoes grown from seeds sourced from the south of France, and they’re award-winning. The flavor is bold and balanced, with juicy and crunchy playing off each other and a structured, juicy finish.

• Flavor notes: Bold and balanced, with a juicy finish
• Best uses: Straight from the vine, no accompaniment needed
• Tommalier tip: Skip the dressing. These don’t need help.

How to Host Your Own Tomato Tasting

You can recreate the flight at home with family and friends:

1. Pick three to five different tomatoes.
2. Taste them side by side, one at a time, with water or plain crackers in between.
3. Have everyone note sweetness, acidity, crunch, and finish.
4. Vote on a favorite, then match each tomato to a use: snacking, salad, cheese board, or sauce.

For extra credit, make your own certificates. They’re a hit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Tommalier? A Tommalier is a tomato sommelier: someone who knows how to taste tomatoes and pick the right one for every moment, from sauces to snacks.

What are the sweetest SUNSET® tomatoes? From the flight, Lolli Bombs™ have a bright, candy-like sweetness, and Sugar Bombs® are described as off-the-charts sweet with a big crunch.

What are the best tomatoes for salads? Lolli Bombs™ and Sugar Bombs® both work well in fresh, crisp salads.

What are the best tomatoes for a cheese board? Honey Bombs™ pair naturally with cheese plates, and Tomato Branch™ makes a showpiece for charcuterie boards.

How do you taste test a tomato? Look at it, smell it, taste for sweetness and acidity, notice the texture, and pay attention to the finish.

Can I get these tomatoes year-round? SUNSET® grows its tomatoes in greenhouses, so you can enjoy flavorful tomatoes year-round.

October is National Tomato Month, which makes this the perfect time to taste your way through a few varieties. Next time you’re at the store, skip the autopilot and ask yourself: what am I making, and which tomato fits? That one question changed how I shop.

Learn more at sunsetgrown.com and don’t figure to load up your shopping cart! 

More tomato recipes to enjoy: Chipotle White Bean Tomato Soup, Cilantro Tomato Smoked Salmon, and Easy Parmesan Tomato Soup.