The seeds of this and other tomatoes were gathered by British, French, Italian, and Turkish soldiers of the Crimean War (1853–1856) as they were returning home and were grown, passed down, and shared through the soldiers’ families. They were valued enough to be kept in circulation until being discovered and introduced to the public in 1990. Flattened globe fruits that are dark reddish-purple to black with green/brown shoulders. The flavor is intense, with a rich, clean, earthy, almost smoky flavor that delivers a sweetness balanced by notes of acidity, giving it a distinct, slightly salty taste.