The slow drying process causes tomatoes to lose their internal moisture and can lose almost ninety percent of their initial weight. The decrease in volume intensifies the taste of the tomato, making it a condiment or garnish ideal to accompany meat dishes or salads. Sun-dried tomatoes are very popular in certain Mediterranean cuisines. One of the most famous is the Italian (region of Puglia) where it is usual to see roofs of houses full of these tomatoes drying in the sun.