Thakkali, tamatar in Hindi, is tomato, a nightshade from the Andes that was domesticated in Mexico and reached India through European traders. Today India is the world’s second-largest tomato grower, with big markets at Kolar in Karnataka and Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh. It goes into almost every everyday curry, rasam and chutney. Its leaves and green stems are not eaten.
- Botanical name
- Solanum lycopersicum L.
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Tamil
- Thakkali
- Hindi
- Tamatar
- Sanskrit
- Raktaphala
- Parts used
- Fruit
- Habit
- Garden nightshade grown for its juicy fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Thakkali
It is a sprawling, hairy annual with a strong smell, usually staked to knee or waist height.
The leaves are pinnately divided into irregular, toothed leaflets with small leaflets in between.
Small yellow, star-shaped flowers hang in clusters.
The fruits are juicy berries, red, yellow, orange or purple when ripe, from cherry-size to large and ribbed.
Brinjal, a relative, has large, simple leaves and purple flowers.
Traditional use of Thakkali
Kitchen
Tomato is the base of rasam and thakkali thokku in Tamil Nadu and of most North Indian gravies.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Raw tomato goes into kachumber salad, and green tomatoes are made into chutney.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
In Italy and Spain tomatoes are cooked into pasta sauces and blended into gazpacho.
Mediterranean food practice
Modern notes on Thakkali
The red colour comes from lycopene, which the body absorbs better from cooked tomatoes eaten with some fat.
Tomatoes supply vitamin C, potassium and folate.
Leaves and green stems contain tomatine, which is mildly toxic.
Indian tomato prices swing sharply with weather and pests, sometimes rising several times over within weeks.
Thakkali safety
Tomato fruit is a safe food. Do not eat the leaves or stems. Some people with reflux find acidic tomato dishes worsen symptoms.
Ecology and sourcing
Wild tomatoes grow in western South America.
Bumblebees buzz the flowers to shake out pollen.
Leaf curl virus, spread by whiteflies, is a major problem in Indian fields.
Related plants
Also in Solanaceae
Questions about Thakkali
Is tomato a fruit or vegetable?
Botanically a fruit, cooked as a vegetable.
Are tomato leaves edible?
No.
Is cooked tomato better for lycopene?
Yes, the body absorbs more.
Where did tomatoes come from?
The Andes, domesticated in Mexico.
Is Thakkali related to brinjal?
Yes. Both are Solanum species.
Sources
- Solanum lycopersicum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q23501 (Solanum lycopersicum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.