My neighbor has a gorgeous potager (kitchen garden) and brought over lots of vegetables including these beautiiful Tomates Coeur de Boeuf / Beef Heart Tomatoes. They are about the size of large oranges. I love how they look like hearts and are so different in shape (ridges and a tapering bottom) from your run-o-the-mill tomatoes everywhere. There might be many varieties of these Beef Hearts but they don’t look anything like the so-called Beef Hearts I’ve seen in French markets, even at the farmer’s markets. The market varieties never usually look like cow hearts (or at least what I imagine actual cow hearts to look like) because they have flat bottoms. These from my neighbor do seem to merit their name. I am guessing that the market varieties are genetically modified or just a different kind of Coeur de Boeuf that have flat bottoms, which pack and transport easier. (They don’t roll around so much and get damaged with that flat bottom.) In any case, it is once again amazing to see all of the different kinds of vegetables and fruits around here, that I’ve never seen before. Btw, these are so amazing in flavor, it is best to eat them raw in salads or as thick slices inside a simple yummy tomato sandwich. (I made tomato sammiches with avocado, bleu auvergne cheese and lightly toasted walnut bread.)
It may be cold, rainy and icky outside in August of all months (I thought it was supposed to be summer?!), but that didn’t stop us from having a summery lunch next to the warmth of the fire inside!
12 Comments so far
Leave a comment
they are so miam too, carole. honestly, i am so used to seeing only the standard tomato, these are so nice to look at (for a short while) 
Does any one know where the seeds of the Beef Heart Tomato can be purchased in the US?
Thank you.
Marlene
hi marlene, i sometimes get seeds from bountiful gardens but after a quick look, i didn’t see any beef heart tomatoes there. you can try to find other places by doing a search in google. that said, i’ve heard that the u.s. has put a lot of new restrictions on imports from europe, particularly seeds, but also a long list of other items as well.
also, you might ask the seed ambassadors to brings some seeds home for you!
Comment by ptinfrance 02.06.07 @ 4:03 amhi
do u know why there are this big? i mean when they genetically modiefied why do they become like this?
thanks i’ll be waiting for your answer.
Comment by Shakiba 05.26.07 @ 8:31 amFranchiSeeds is were I get Coeur de Boeuf
and other Italian seeds
If anyone figures out where to get some seeds for the beehearts in the US, please let me know. A friend of mine (passed) grew these in Fallon, NV years ago….. They are awesome!
Comment by Ed 05.01.09 @ 4:23 pmHow do you get the seeded or where to get them?
Comment by Naomi Bookhammer 06.08.09 @ 3:31 pmWe were introduced to CDB in southern France and brought back some seeds. They are easy to grow on trellises in the hot Central Valley of CA. Many friends have saved seed from fruit I’ve given away and grow them as well. I just picked one today for seed and it weighed 7/8 of a pound.
They are equally popular in Italy called cuore di bue, same translation. In farmers markets they are usually sold greenish to pink as they rippen from the inside.
Comment by Ed McConnell 08.25.09 @ 5:53 pmI think you can order the seeds at “Grow it Italian”
http://growitalian.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi
After you get into the site, go to tomatoes. I was able to find the seeds on my visit to Sydney. Just planted them and hope I get a crop.. We have had a lot of rain in Portland, Or this year.
Marlene
I was searching on google for more info about this wonderful tomato. I got the seeds from a co-worker from Belgium. These are without a doubt the best tomatoes i have ever had. Seeds keep in the fridge for the next year.
Comment by jeff 11.11.11 @ 11:06 pmLeave a comment
E-mail addresses are never displayed - If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting. HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
This site uses KeywordLuv. Enter YourName@YourKeywords in the Name field to take advantage. Links are dofollow because we don't believe in dictatorship of evil.