'Coração de Boi' Oxheart Tomato – traditional Portuguese tomato variety with a mild‑sweet flavour.
A warmth‑loving, robust tomato variety with 200–300 g, heart‑shaped, bright red fruits. Its mild‑sweet, tender flesh is very meaty, juicy and ideal for fresh summer cuisine. The plants grow vigorously, indeterminate, and reach 180–220 cm in height. They reliably produce large, fleshy fruits and are well suited for protected open‑field cultivation, raised beds, polytunnels and large containers. Open‑pollinated, high‑yielding and ideal for self‑sufficiency, direct marketing and ecological cultivation.
Origin & History
‘Coração de Boi’ is a traditional Portuguese landrace that has been grown in Portugal since the 20th century. It became particularly established in the regions of Minho, Douro Litoral and Trás‑os‑Montes, where it was passed on through farmer‑led selection and developed into one of Portugal’s most popular summer salad tomatoes. Botanically, the variety belongs to the family Solanaceae, subfamily Solanoideae, genus Solanum.
The variety was first mentioned in writing in 1978, in a regional agricultural report from northern Portugal describing large‑fruited, heart‑shaped tomatoes under the name “Coração de Boi”. Even then, it was known as a locally widespread, fleshy salad tomato with a mild flavour, confirming its deep roots in Portuguese summer cuisine. The name “Coração de Boi” means “oxheart” and refers to the characteristic heart shape of the fruits, considered a defining feature of the variety in Portugal. Over decades of farmer‑led selection, a stable, open‑pollinated type with tender, juicy flesh emerged.
As an open‑pollinated variety, ‘Coração de Boi’ represents the Portuguese tradition of large‑fruited, fleshy salad tomatoes with a mild, balanced flavour. It is closely linked to regional summer cuisine, where it is served fresh, raw and in thick slices. Today, it is one of the best‑known Portuguese beefsteak tomatoes and is valued in ecological cultivation for its robustness, flavour and reliable yield stability.
Appearance & Characteristics
The plants are annual, herbaceous and upright. They grow vigorously indeterminate and reach heights of 180–220 cm. Warm‑loving, minimum temperature for cultivation 12–14 °C.
Fruit details:
Size: 7–10 cm diameter, approx. 200–300 g
Shape: Heart‑shaped, lightly ribbed
Color: Bright red with warm yellow to golden‑red nuances
Texture: Very meaty, tender, few seeds
Flavor: Mild‑sweet, aromatic, low acidity
Usage & Cultivation Highlights
‘Coração de Boi’ is a versatile beefsteak tomato with tender, juicy flesh. Ideal for fresh salads, carpaccio, bruschetta, tomato bread, sandwiches, Mediterranean dishes and cold summer cuisine. Thanks to its dense, fleshy texture, it is also well suited for sauces, creamy soups, oven dishes and aromatic passata. In addition, it performs excellently in gazpacho, tomato risotto, stuffed tomatoes, light summer pasta, antipasti, grilled dishes, savoury tarts, tomato confit, chutneys and gently preserved pantry staples. Its delicate structure also makes it ideal for fresh salsas, fine dips, spreads and as a base for mild, fruity tomato juices.
The variety is robust, warmth‑loving and delivers high, uniform yields in sunny open‑field conditions. ‘Coração de Boi’ shows good tolerance to heat and variable summers with large temperature fluctuations, sets fruit reliably and benefits from humus‑rich, well‑drained soils. The plants grow vigorously, develop strong roots and maintain remarkable yield stability even during dry periods. The variety also convinces with rapid juvenile growth, stable flower formation even during short temperature drops, uniform fruit development and a long harvest period. Its vigorous growth ensures good leaf coverage, protecting the fruits from sunscald and promoting a balanced microclimate. Thanks to its natural adaptability, it thrives reliably in raised beds, sheltered plots and warm open‑field sites, showing consistent productivity even in less favourable years.
Compared to other beefsteak tomatoes, ‘Coração de Boi’ stands out with its tender texture, mild‑sweet flavour, robust open‑pollinated nature and its close connection to Portuguese food culture – ideal for anyone seeking an authentic, traditional oxheart tomato.
