Botanically speaking, nuts are tree nuts, but not all tree nuts are nuts. Some tree nuts are drupes. I know, it’s pretty confusing, so let me explain. Nuts are by definition a hard-shelled pod that contains both the fruit and seed of the plant, a category that includes hazelnuts and acorns.

Where do seeds and nuts come from?

Nuts are actually the seeds of plants. Most are the seeds of trees; peanuts, however, are the seeds of a legume. Many, including walnuts and cashews, grow inside leathery fruits, with the nut corresponding to the peach pit (also a seed) within a peach.

Do all nuts grow on trees except peanuts?

Tree nuts grow on trees, whereas peanuts grow underground and are considered legumes. Tree nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.

Is a coconut a tree nut?

The FDA lists coconut as a tree nut. In fact, coconut is a seed of a drupaceous fruit. Most people allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut. Coconut allergy is reasonably rare.

Do almonds come from trees?

almond, (Prunus dulcis), tree native to southwestern Asia and its edible seed.

Is a cashew a seed or a nut?

Thus, because of the plant’s structural configuration, the edible portion of a cashew is botanically classified as a drupe seed. The seed and its outer shell are technically considered both the nut and the fruit, but the shell is inedible due to the presence of a toxic substance.

Why is a Brazil nut not a nut?

At maturity, the round, woody fruits the size of cannon balls fall to the ground with 10 to 25 edible seeds about 1.5 inches long trapped inside. In botanical terminology, a nut is a kind of fruit so this is why the Brazil nut would have been more appropriately named the “Brazil seed.”

Is nutmeg a nut?

No! Although the word nutmeg contains the word “nut,” it is not related to peanuts or tree nuts. It is a dried seed, which is ground to make a spice.

Is Avocado a nut?

Since avocado is classified as a fruit and not a tree nut, you should be able to eat avocados even if you have a nut allergy. However, some studies have shown that avocados have similar proteins as chestnuts. So if you’re allergic to chestnuts, you may have to avoid avocados.

Is Cinnamon a tree nut?

If you have a tree nut allergy, you may wonder if you should avoid certain spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. Cinnamon and nutmeg do not come from nuts, so if you have a tree nut allergy, these spices should be safe to eat. Even though nutmeg sounds like it could be a tree nut, it is not a nut.

Where do Brazil nuts come from?

Brazil nut, (Bertholletia excelsa), also called Pará nut, edible seed of a large South American tree (family Lecythidaceae) found in the Amazonian forests of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Which nuts are actually fruits?

Most nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews, are botanically defined as seeds rather than fruit. Yet, a handful of true nuts like chestnuts and hazelnuts are technically fruits. The lone exception is peanuts, which are a legume.

What nut grows underground?

While real nuts grow on trees, peanuts grow in pods that mature underground; other types of legumes, such as lentils and peas, also grow beneath the surface. Additional nut frauds include cashews, walnuts, pistachios, and almonds. Botanically speaking, they are classified as seeds of the trees (or fruits!)