Tag: Peanut classification

According to botanists, a peanut is a legume, not a true nut, and is more closely related to beans and peas. The answer to whether a peanut is a vegetable or a fruit depends entirely on whether you're using a scientific or a culinary definition of food categories.

Peanuts are botanically classified as legumes, not true nuts, a fact that surprises many people. This places them in the same plant family as peas, lentils, and beans, despite their common association with tree nuts like almonds and walnuts.

Despite their name and nutty flavor, peanuts are not true nuts; they are a type of legume. Botanically, this places them in the same family as peas, lentils, and beans, a classification that often surprises people and can have significant implications for those with food allergies.