The Community for Catholic Moms

is tomatillo really tomato?

Since I am allergic to tomatos, my husband and I looked up on internet on to see if tomatillo is part of tomato or not. Unfortunately, they give us vague answers. So does anyone know if tomatillo is connected to tomato or not. should I be all right to have them or not?

Blessings,
Jennifer

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Bartalini on December 12, 2009 at 5:08pm

I don't think it is a tomato, but it is in the same family, so maybe you would be allergic.

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Permalink Reply by StephC on December 12, 2009 at 9:33pm

If you check Wikipedia for Tomatillo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatillo#cite_note-0

and compare the scientific classification (on the right sidebar) with that of a tomato:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato

it would seem that they are of the same plant family but different genus and species.

If you look up the family they share (Solanacae) and go to the "Nutritional Importance" section, is says,
"The most important species of this family for the global diet is the potato or Solanum tuberosum, whose carbohydrate-rich tubers have been a staple food in many times and places, and which is one of the most grown crops today. In many genera, the fruits are the desirable item, for example, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, uchuva, and peppers.

Some people experience sensitivity or allergy-like symptoms in response to nightshade plants."

Bottom line is, though, your body is unique, and if for whatever reason you can't tolerate them, then that's the answer for you! (Frustrating, isn't it?) If you're commited to eating them, for whatever reason, why don't you do a single tomatillo taste test, e.g., put a tiny piece in your mouth, hold it there, see what it does, then eat a tiny bit, wait an hour, etc.