Economy: Tied boiled tomato mix resurface in markets
2026-03-30 - 06:54
By Elizabeth Adegbesan In apparent effort to cushion the effects of high cost of tomatoes, the average Nigerian family has returned to the long abandoned habit of buying boiled tomato mix. Read Also: Deadline Tomorrow: N4.6trn banks’ recapitalisation sparks sectoral battle for funds Economy&Lifestyle findings revealed that the tomato mix is a combination of tomatoes, habanero pepper and onion blended to paste and boiled. The paste is allowed to cool before being portioned in cellophanes sachets and sold within the ranges of N200 to N500. Mrs. Ramota Abdul, a vegetable seller, said she had to include it to her business, as there is hardly electricity in their area for residents to use their electric blenders. “For months now we had no light. “The increase in the price of fuel has created a rise in the cost of blending things in the market. “My vegetable business is crawling with bills piling up. So I saw the opportunity to introduce blended tomato mix paste for sale to make profit to foot my bills. “At first I thought people wouldn’t patronize me but they did. “At times I sell up to a basket of tomato paste mix in a day. “Many people are very busy preparing tomatoes for sauce. “So buying the blended and boiled ones makes it easier. “I have ordinary tomato mix paste and those laced with ginger, turmeric and garlic. “Though the trade was done years back but technology and other hygiene advancement coupled with Covid 19 killed it then.” This trade was resurrected after being abandoned due to poor hygiene and the quality of tomatoes and pepper used. Also the increasing adoption of hand held manuals and electric blenders reduced patronage. Mrs. Rolake Daudu, a trader , said: “I grew up with this “ata lilo” in Yoruba ( blended tomato paste) on Itire road in Lagos with waterleaf. “I used to buy this paste then. “But recently it has resurfaced and I am glad it did because it has really helped my day a lot. “Sometimes, I buy N6000 to N10,000 tomato paste from a woman in my area and it tastes well. “She uses fresh tomatoes, peppers and onions and the paste is very dry. “All I do is share them into portions and put them in the freezer and use them whenever I want to cook. “She even makes the ones that are shredded.” Mrs. Grace Amedu, a female clothing seller said: “When I saw people crowding a particular spot in the market, I was surprised. “Students, mothers , men were patronizing the seller. I moved closer to see what she was selling. Behold, it was blended tomato mix paste that has been cooked. “I was happy that at least someone took it upon herself to help people solve a problem in a city where electricity and fuel has become a huge national problem. “Though I was impressed but I knew I would never buy such because I am very conscious about what I put in my mouth. “Then when this tomato mix was rampant, people blended rotten tomatoes, pepper, onion to make the paste. “Some even mix soured ones they couldn’t finish selling to the fresh ones. “Selling such, one must extremely have excellent hygiene.” Vanguard News