Tag: Nut

While most people call the cashew a nut, it is botanically a seed harvested from a kidney-shaped drupe, not a true nut. So, is cashew nut a plant product? The answer is a clear and resounding yes, as it comes from the tropical evergreen cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale).

Despite being labeled and sold as a nut, a botanical almond is not a true nut, but the seed of a drupe, which is a fruit with a hard, stony shell surrounding a kernel. This surprising fact puts almonds in the same botanical family as peaches, cherries, and plums.

Botanically, the coconut is officially classified as a fibrous, one-seeded drupe, which is a type of fruit. This complex categorization explains why the question 'is a coconut a fruit, nut, or seed?' is a subject of so much confusion, as it possesses characteristics of all three.

Botanically, the coconut is classified as a fibrous one-seeded drupe, which is a type of fruit. This scientific reality is often at odds with how coconuts are used in the kitchen, leading many to question, 'Is A coconut A Vegetable or a fruit?'.

Botanically speaking, the coconut is a fibrous one-seeded drupe, not a true nut, which is a key fact when asking: does coconut count as nuts?. The confusion stems from a mix of its hard shell, culinary uses, and past regulatory classifications.

Botanically, peanuts are not nuts but are actually legumes, part of the same family as peas and beans. The scientific name, *Arachis hypogaea*, even means “under earth,” a nod to their distinctive subterranean growth. This botanical fact often comes as a surprise to those who have always considered them nuts for culinary purposes.

The Fabaceae family, commonly known as the legume family, is the third largest family of flowering plants. This vast botanical group is the source of one of our biggest food confusions: Is a legume a nut or a bean?

According to botanists, a banana is a true berry, a fact that surprises most people who assume it is a fruit but not a berry. This common misconception stems from the different criteria used in culinary versus botanical worlds, answering the question: are bananas a nut or a berry?

While commonly used in savory dishes like guacamole and salads, avocados are botanically classified as a large, single-seeded berry, making them a fruit. This often surprises many who associate fruit with sweetness and reserve them for dessert.

The strawberry, a favorite for its sweet taste, has a botanical identity that surprises many people. Despite its common name, a strawberry is neither a true berry nor a nut, but an aggregate accessory fruit.