What are the white tomatoes called? A guide to popular varieties

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

While most people are familiar with the red varieties, white tomatoes are actually heirloom cultivars prized for their unique appearance and sweet, mild flavor. These pale, cream-colored fruits are less acidic than their red counterparts and include popular types like Great White, White Beauty, and Ghost Cherry tomatoes.

Quick Summary

White tomatoes are typically heirloom varieties with pale, creamy, or yellowish skin and flesh. Their flavor is notably sweeter and milder than red tomatoes due to lower acidity. Common examples include the large Great White, the historic White Beauty, and the small Ghost Cherry. These distinctive tomatoes are best enjoyed fresh, though they can be used in unique sauces.

Key Points

Great White: A large, low-acid beefsteak heirloom known for its sweet, melon-like flavor and meaty flesh.
White Beauty: An historic, medium-sized beefsteak variety prized for its rich, sweet, and slightly citrusy flavor.
Snow White Cherry: A high-yielding, pale yellow cherry tomato with a sweet, mild flavor, ideal for snacking and salads.
Ghost Cherry: A prolific cherry variety producing creamy-white fruits with a sweet flavor and thin, slightly downy skin.
Low Acidity: White tomatoes have a naturally low acid content, making them sweeter and milder than most red tomatoes.
Best for Fresh Use: The delicate flavor and low acidity mean white tomatoes are best eaten fresh and are not recommended for traditional canning.
Rich in Antioxidants: White tomatoes contain powerful, colorless antioxidants called phytoene and phytofluene, which offer significant skin health benefits.

Popular Heirloom White Tomato Varieties

When people ask, "What are the white tomatoes called?", they are often referring to heirloom varieties that have been passed down through generations for their unique characteristics. While not pure white, they range from a very pale yellow or creamy ivory to a delicate green. Their mild, low-acid flavor makes them a favorite for fresh eating.

The Great White

One of the most famous white tomato varieties is the 'Great White'. This beefsteak-type tomato is known for its large size, often weighing up to two pounds, and its meaty, low-seed flesh. Its flavor is exceptionally sweet with notes of melon and guava, a departure from the typical tangy tomato taste. First introduced in the 1990s from a chance genetic mutation, the Great White is a favorite for slicing on sandwiches and salads. The indeterminate plant is known for its hardiness, especially in hot climates.

White Beauty

Another notable heirloom is the 'White Beauty'. Documented as early as the 1850s, this variety is a piece of American gardening history. It produces oblate, creamy-white fruits, typically weighing 6 to 8 ounces. The firm, dense flesh has very few seeds and a rich, sweet, and slightly citrusy flavor that sets it apart from other mild white varieties. Its robust flavor profile makes it suitable for fresh eating, slicing, or even a unique white sauce.

Snow White Cherry

For those who prefer smaller, bite-sized fruits, the 'Snow White Cherry' is a delightful option. This indeterminate, high-yielding variety produces masses of one-inch, ivory-colored cherry tomatoes that ripen to a pale yellow. The flavor is described as deliciously sweet with a balanced acidity, making it a perfect snacking tomato or addition to salads. It was bred by seedsman Joe Bratka and is a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor growing.

Ghost Cherry

Similar to the Snow White but with its own distinct characteristics, the 'Ghost Cherry' is another popular heirloom. This variety produces creamy-white, one- to one-and-a-half-inch fruits with a sweet, mild flavor and very thin skins. The indeterminate plants are prolific producers and often feature a subtle pink or yellow blush on the fruit. Its very sweet flavor is best enjoyed fresh off the vine or in salads.

Cooking with White Tomatoes

Due to their low acidity, white tomatoes are not ideal for traditional preserving methods like canning, which require high acidity to be safe. They are best used fresh to preserve their delicate flavor.

Salads: Sliced Great Whites and whole Snow or Ghost Cherries are perfect for adding a pop of unique color and sweet flavor to any salad.
Salsas: A fresh, mild salsa made with chopped white tomatoes, cucumber, and fresh herbs is a delicious and unexpected twist on the classic.
White Tomato Sauce: A white tomato sauce, made from a variety like 'White Wonder' or 'Great White', can be a unique, sweet alternative to a traditional red sauce.
Sandwiches and Burgers: Slices of a meaty beefsteak like the Great White or White Beauty add a sweet, juicy component to sandwiches and burgers.

Comparison of Popular White Tomato Varieties


Attribute	Great White	White Beauty	Snow White Cherry	Ghost Cherry
Type	Beefsteak	Beefsteak	Cherry	Cherry
Approximate Weight	Up to 2 lbs	6-8 oz	1 oz	1-1.5 oz
Flavor Profile	Sweet, fruity, melon-like, low-acid	Sweet, rich, slightly citrusy, low-acid	Sweet, mild, balanced acidity	Sweet, mild, thin-skinned
Growth Habit	Indeterminate	Indeterminate	Indeterminate	Indeterminate
History	Introduced in the early 1990s	Dates back to at least the 1850s	Developed by seedsman Joe Bratka	American heirloom variety
Best For	Slicing, fresh eating	Slicing, sauces, fresh eating	Snacking, salads	Fresh eating, salads

Growing Tips for White Tomatoes

Cultivating white tomatoes is similar to growing other varieties, but paying close attention to a few details can ensure a successful harvest.

Soil Preparation: Like all tomatoes, white varieties thrive in fertile, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Amending with compost or organic matter is beneficial.
Sunlight: Ensure your plants get plenty of full sun, ideally at least 6-8 hours per day, for optimal growth and fruit production.
Support: Indeterminate varieties like Great White and Snow White will require sturdy cages or stakes to support their vigorous growth and heavy fruit load.
Watering: Consistent watering is key. Aim to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulching can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.
Fertilizing: Regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer formulated for tomatoes can help ensure a productive harvest.
Harvesting: For most white varieties, harvest when the fruit turns a pale cream, ivory, or pale yellow color and yields slightly to a gentle press. A ripe Ghost Cherry, for instance, will be creamy white with hints of blush.

Nutritional and Skin Benefits

White tomatoes offer more than just a unique appearance and flavor. They are a source of phytoene and phytofluene, two powerful, colorless antioxidants. These carotenoids are effective at protecting skin from UV damage, neutralizing free radicals, and inhibiting melanin synthesis, leading to a brighter, more even skin tone. The presence of these antioxidants has made white tomato extract a popular ingredient in beauty and skin supplement products. For more scientific information, a report on these specific carotenoids is available.

Conclusion

White tomatoes are a delightful and diverse group of heirloom varieties that offer a sweeter, less acidic flavor profile than their red cousins. Whether you choose the large, meaty Great White, the historic and flavorful White Beauty, or the sweet, prolific Snow White or Ghost Cherries, these unique fruits are a wonderful addition to any garden. Best enjoyed fresh to appreciate their mild flavor, these pale wonders are perfect for salads, sandwiches, and unique sauces. By providing the right growing conditions, you can enjoy a bounty of these rare, low-acid tomatoes all season long.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Great White tomato is often considered one of the sweetest white tomato varieties, with a flavor profile that includes sweet, melon-like notes and low acidity.

No, white tomatoes are distinct, fully ripened heirloom varieties, not unripe red ones. They naturally lack the colored carotenoids (lycopene and beta-carotene) that give red tomatoes their color.

Yes, but they are best used fresh to preserve their delicate flavor. They are not recommended for high-heat cooking or canning due to their low acidity, but can be used in fresh sauces, salsas, or salads.

Many white tomatoes are heirloom varieties with long histories. For example, White Beauty tomatoes were grown as far back as the mid-1800s, while Great White was discovered more recently in the late 1980s as a genetic mutation.

Yes, white tomatoes are a rich source of colorless carotenoids, such as phytoene and phytofluene. These antioxidants offer skin health benefits, including protection against UV damage and evening out skin tone.

Look for fruits that have reached their mature, pale color (creamy white or pale yellow) and feel slightly soft when gently pressed. Avoid any with blemishes or soft spots.

A ripe white tomato will typically change from a pale green to a creamy white or pale yellow color. The best way to check is to give it a gentle squeeze; the fruit should yield slightly.