📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zvart Heil Lekken
- 🌍 Origin: A rare dark heirloom. The name appears to be of Dutch/Flemish origin (Zwart meaning black). In Eastern European seed circles, it is widely traded under its translated Russian name: Istochnik Schastya Cherny (Black Source of Happiness).
- 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). A mid-season variety that is known for being a very reliable and heavy yielder.
- 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Medium to large oblate (flattened-round) beefsteaks. The color is a stunning, rich mix of black, brown, and purple. Fruits typically weigh between 8.8 to 12.3 oz (250-350 g).
- 👅 Flavor: Perfectly balanced. It has an excellent sweet taste with just a hint of tanginess. The flesh texture is highly praised for being meaty, juicy, and “granular” (sparkling).
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Black Source of Happiness (Zvart Heil Lekken).
This is an indeterminate, tall, mid-season variety. The fruits are oblate black-brown-purple beefsteaks, usually weighing around 8.8 to 12.3 oz (250-350 g).
It’s a heavy yielder, and the flavor is beautifully balanced and very pleasant. The flesh is meaty, juicy, and has a great granular texture. It has an excellent sweet taste with just a little bit of an acidic kick to it.
👨🌾 Editor’s Note: “Granular” or Sparkling Flesh
In her review, Irina describes the flesh as “granular.” In the American heirloom tomato community, we usually refer to this highly sought-after texture as having “sparkling” or “sugary” flesh. You see this most often in high-quality pinks (like Brandywine) and dark beefsteaks (like Cherokee Purple). Instead of being slick, mushy, or watery, the flesh is made up of thousands of tiny, distinct juice cells that sparkle in the sunlight and give the tomato an incredibly rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture!
In her review, Irina describes the flesh as “granular.” In the American heirloom tomato community, we usually refer to this highly sought-after texture as having “sparkling” or “sugary” flesh. You see this most often in high-quality pinks (like Brandywine) and dark beefsteaks (like Cherokee Purple). Instead of being slick, mushy, or watery, the flesh is made up of thousands of tiny, distinct juice cells that sparkle in the sunlight and give the tomato an incredibly rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture!
