Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing tomato pastes that have increased dietary value, e.g. resulting from the presence of a significant amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid. More in particular, the present method concerns producing tomato pastes from dehydrated processing tomatoes, said dehydrated tomatoes being obtained either by harvesting post-ripened tomatoes that have dehydrated while still on the vine or by harvesting tomatoes that are subsequently dehydrated by drying the intact tomatoes said tomatoes having a cuticle that is permeable to water. The inventors have observed that in order to produce a tomato paste with the desired high GABA content and optimum taste, the processing tomatoes should be dehydrated to a Brix value within the range of 5-10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing tomato pastes that have increased dietaryvalue, e.g. resulting from the presence of a significant amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid. More in particular, the present method concerns producing tomato pastes from dehydrated processing tomatoes, said dehydrated tomatoes being obtained either by harvesting post-ripened tomatoes that have dehydrated while still on the vine or by harvesting tomatoes that are subsequently dehydrated by drying the intact tomatoes said tomatoes having a cuticle that is permeable to water. The inventors have observed that in order to produce a tomato paste with the desired high GABA content and optimum taste, the processing tomatoes should be dehydrated to a Brix value within the range of 5-10.