Eggplant Botanical Fruit

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Eggplant Botanical Fruit – Many people don’t know that eggplant is actually a botanical fruit– not a vegetable. Notice the word “botanical”– the eggplant may fall into the technical category of a fruit, culturally speaking it is a vegetable.

Why culturally speaking? Because humans have denoted that certain produce is a fruit/vegetable by the way we use it in our cuisine. “Vegetables”, generally speaking, are used in savory dishes and are mostly cooked. “Fruits” are typically eaten on their own or cooked in desserts and have a reputation for being sweet.

Eggplant Botanical Fruit

Now, the true botanical definition of a fruit is: the ripened ovary of a plant (i.e. the edible part that contains seeds).

In order for a plant to be a botanical vegetable, it must be a leaf, stalk, or root.

Here are some examples (including eggplant) of botanical fruits from the Health Diaries:

“Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a fruit in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family.

Avocados
Avocado is a fruit (technically a berry) from the plant family Lauraceae.

Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a member of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. They develop from a flower and are classified as a fruit.

Squash
All varieties of squash of the genus Cucurbita are classified as fruits. This includes pumpkins, zucchini, summer squash, butternut squash, and acorn squash.

Eggplant
Eggplant is a fruit in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. It is related to tomatoes and potatoes. Interestingly, eggplant is classified as a berry.

Peppers
All peppers, including bell peppers, are fruits of the genus Capsicum. Like eggplant and tomatoes, they are a member of the nightshade family.” 

So next time you order an eggplant parm, remember that you’re actually eating a fruit! Furthermore, feel comforted by the fact that you’re consuming a botanical fruit that helps prevent cancer, improve your skin and help you lose weight. Yum!

Related: Why is an Eggplant called an “eggplant”?

Eggplant Botanical Fruit

Eggplant Botanical Fruit