Tag: Cucumber fruit

Did you know that a cucumber is technically a fruit, and that almost every part of a cultivated cucumber plant can be eaten? While many people only consume the fresh fruit, the leaves, flowers, and even the stems can offer a delicious and nutritious addition to your meals.

In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a tomato should be classified as a vegetable for tax purposes, forever blurring the line between culinary and botanical definitions. This ruling cemented the tomato's status as a culinary vegetable, despite its scientific classification, making it the most famous example of a fruit considered a vegetable.

While watermelon is often celebrated for its juicy content, it's not actually the wateriest fruit. A lesser-known but botanically correct fruit takes the top spot with a higher water percentage. In fact, the fruit with the highest water content is the cucumber.

Over 96% of its mass is water, making the cucumber the highest water fruit, though it's often mistaken for a vegetable due to its culinary use. This mild-tasting member of the gourd family is an incredibly effective way to support your daily hydration needs. Beyond just its high water content, the cucumber and other hydrating fruits offer a wealth of nutrients that support overall health.

In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court famously ruled that tomatoes should be taxed as vegetables, not fruits, for tariff purposes, highlighting the confusion surrounding how to classify fruit vs. vegetable. The truth is, the answer depends on whether you're a botanist or a chef, with each field using a different set of rules for classification.

In an 1893 court case, the US Supreme Court ruled that a tomato was a vegetable for tariff purposes, highlighting the confusion. The question of which of these is not a vegetable often stems from the different ways we classify produce in science and in the kitchen.

According to botanists, a cucumber is a fruit because it develops from the flower of a plant and contains seeds. However, most people refer to cucumbers as vegetables due to their savory flavor and common use in salads and savory dishes. This dual classification is the source of frequent confusion, but understanding the different definitions reveals why both perspectives are correct.