What are nuts actually called? A surprising botanical truth

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 7,000 species of edible plants fall under the general 'nut' umbrella, yet botanically, most are not nuts at all. The simple question, "What are nuts actually called?" leads to a fascinating and complex answer, revealing that many of our favorite snacks are seeds, legumes, or drupes.

Quick Summary

Beyond the kitchen, the botanical definitions for nuts, drupes, legumes, and seeds reveal surprising distinctions. This article clarifies the scientific categories for common "nuts" and explains why the culinary and botanical worlds use different terms.

Key Points

True Nuts are Dry Fruits: Botanically, a true nut is a dry, indehiscent fruit with a hard, woody shell and a single seed that does not open naturally.
Many 'Nuts' are Drupes: Foods like almonds, walnuts, and pecans are actually drupes, which are fleshy fruits with a hardened, stony pit containing a seed.
Peanuts are Legumes, Not Nuts: Despite their name, peanuts are part of the legume family, which includes peas and beans, and they grow underground in pods.
Culinary vs. Botanical Definitions: The everyday use of "nut" differs from the scientific definition, creating confusion. The culinary term is based on function and taste, not botanical origin.
Allergy Considerations: The distinction between true nuts, seeds, and legumes is important for allergy sufferers, as allergic reactions differ between these groups.
Seeds Mistaken for Nuts: Some items, such as pine nuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia nuts, are botanically seeds and not true nuts.
Common Examples of True Nuts: The few commonly consumed true nuts include chestnuts, hazelnuts, and acorns.

The word "nut" is one of the most misused terms in the culinary world, where it serves as a catch-all for almost any hard-shelled edible kernel. However, this casual label clashes with the strict classification system used by botanists. Understanding the difference is not just a trivia point; it can be crucial for people with allergies, as a peanut allergy differs fundamentally from a tree nut allergy. This guide will explain the proper botanical names and categories for the items we commonly call nuts.

The True Nut: A Botanical Rarity

In the scientific community, a "true nut" is defined by very specific criteria. It is a simple, dry fruit with a single seed (or sometimes two) and a hard, woody shell that does not split open to release the seed when mature. This indehiscent quality—meaning it does not open on its own—is the key characteristic that separates it from other plant products. The hard shell is the result of the ovary wall of the flower maturing and hardening over time.

Examples of true nuts:

Acorns: The fruit of the oak tree, these are classic examples of true nuts.
Hazelnuts (Filberts): Found on hazel trees, their hard shells enclose a single seed.
Chestnuts: These starchy, edible nuts grow inside a spiny burr and are a textbook example of a true nut.
Beech nuts: Produced by beech trees, these small nuts are also botanically correct.

Drupes: The Fruit with a Stone

Many foods we call nuts are actually drupes, which are fruits with a fleshy outer layer surrounding a hardened inner pit or 'stone' that contains a seed. With drupes, we are often eating the seed inside the pit, not the fruit itself.

Common "nuts" that are actually drupes:

Almonds: The part we eat is the seed inside the hard pit of a fruit related to the peach.
Pecans and Walnuts: These are also considered drupes, with the edible kernel being the seed inside the fruit's stony shell.
Pistachios: The hard, split shell is the pit of the drupe, and the green edible portion is the seed.
Cashews: These grow at the end of a fleshy, pear-shaped fruit called a cashew apple; the cashew itself is the seed.

Legumes: The Pod Dwellers

Perhaps the most surprising misnomer is the peanut, which is not a nut at all. Peanuts are legumes, members of the pea and bean family. They grow underground in pods, a process known as geocarpy, with each pod containing several seeds.

Characteristics of legumes:

Pods: They develop in pods that naturally split open to release the seeds when mature.
Growth: Unlike tree nuts, they grow on plants, not trees, and the pods develop underground.
Multiple Seeds: Typically, a legume pod contains more than one seed.

Seeds: The Lone Kernels

Some products are simply edible seeds that are often mistaken for nuts. These are typically extracted from a fruit and do not have the fused, hard shell characteristic of a true nut.

Examples of "nuts" that are seeds:

Brazil Nuts: These are seeds from a large, heavy fruit called a capsule.
Pine Nuts: Small, edible seeds harvested from pine cones.
Macadamia Nuts: While they have a very hard shell, they are botanically seeds from a follicle fruit.

The Culprit: Culinary Convenience

The primary reason for this classification confusion is simple convenience in the kitchen. The culinary world groups these foods together based on shared characteristics like texture, flavor, and how they are used in recipes—for example, a hard, edible kernel. This broad, user-friendly term ignores the botanical specifics that distinguish them.

Comparison Table: Botanical vs. Culinary Nuts


Food Item	Botanical Classification	Culinary Classification
Acorn	True Nut	Nut
Almond	Drupe (seed inside pit)	Nut
Brazil Nut	Seed	Nut
Cashew	Drupe (seed inside fruit)	Nut
Chestnut	True Nut	Nut
Hazelnut	True Nut	Nut
Macadamia	Seed	Nut
Peanut	Legume	Nut
Pecan	Drupe (seed inside pit)	Nut
Pine Nut	Seed	Nut
Pistachio	Drupe (seed inside pit)	Nut
Walnut	Drupe (seed inside pit)	Nut

Conclusion

The next time you enjoy a handful of mixed "nuts," you'll know that you are likely eating a mix of botanical classifications. What are nuts actually called? The answer depends on whether you're a chef or a botanist. While the culinary world uses the term for convenience, the scientific world offers a more precise, and often more surprising, view of what's in your snack mix. This botanical accuracy is a testament to the incredible diversity of the plant kingdom and the intricate ways different species produce their fruits and seeds. For those with allergies, this distinction is a crucial piece of knowledge, while for the rest of us, it is a fascinating and delicious piece of trivia.

Optional outbound link: For more detailed information on plant taxonomy, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website is an authoritative resource maintained by botanists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peanuts are not considered nuts because they are a type of legume, belonging to the same family as peas and beans. They grow underground in pods, while true nuts typically grow on trees.

The main difference is their fruit structure. A nut is a dry, hard-shelled fruit that does not open naturally, while a drupe is a fleshy fruit with a hardened inner pit or 'stone' surrounding a seed.

Botanically, an almond is the seed of a drupe, which is a type of fruit. However, in a culinary context, it is treated as a nut due to its texture and usage.

The distinction is important for people with allergies, as a peanut allergy is separate from a tree nut allergy. It also provides a deeper understanding of plant biology for those interested in botany or food science.

Several foods commonly called nuts are actually seeds, including Brazil nuts, pine nuts, and macadamia nuts.

A person with a tree nut allergy can often consume peanuts safely because they are from different botanical families. However, some individuals are allergic to both, so it is crucial for an allergic person to be properly tested and to consult with a medical professional.

To determine if something is a true nut, you can look for its botanical characteristics: a dry, hard, single-seeded fruit that develops from a flower's ovary and does not split open on its own. Chestnuts, hazelnuts, and acorns are good examples.