I believe some old varieties of egglplant were generally the size and
shape of an egg and were white to pinkish in color, hence the name. I
have also seen antique varieties of tomatoes that were purplish in color.

So, it is possible that the varieties of tomatoes and eggplants back
then in China resembled each other more closely than the 2 pound purple
kidney-shaped eggplant and bright red (though hard) tomato that we have
in the market today.

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Opinicus wrote:

> Following this thread, one of the things that astonishes me
> is that the Chinese should have observed a relationship
> between an eggplant and a tomato.
>