Are Bananas Considered Berries or Fruits? And Other Fruity Questions
Bananas, Berries, and Much More
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Not everything is as it seems.” It’s usually meant to make you ponder life’s mysteries, but it applies surprisingly well to what’s in your fruit bowl, too.
Take this for a spin: tomatoes are fruits but treated as vegetables, almonds are seeds but eaten as nuts, and pumpkins are berries, while strawberries aren’t. Confused? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Botany has its own set of rules, which often go against what we’re taught in the kitchen. And nowhere is that more obvious than with the humble banana. In everyday Aussie kitchens, bananas are thought of as fruits, definitely not berries. But according to science, the answer is a little more complicated. Let’s peel back the layers.
What Is a Fruit?
What Is a Berry?
So, Is Banana a Berry or a Fruit?
Surprisingly, bananas are both. So, why are bananas a berry? Botanically speaking, they tick all the berry boxes: they come from a flower with a single ovary, have soft skin, fleshy insides and tiny seeds. So yes, a banana is a true berry - even if you’ve never tossed one into your berry smoothie without thinking twice.
Need proof of how versatile bananas can be? Try this indulgent yet nourishing dark choc banana brekky smoothie recipe, perfect for mornings when you want a treat and a kickstart all in one.
Need proof of how versatile bananas can be? Try this indulgent yet nourishing dark choc banana brekky smoothie recipe, perfect for mornings when you want a treat and a kickstart all in one.
What About Other Fruits?
Are Grapes Berries?
Yes, grapes are true berries. They develop from a single ovary and have the telltale soft skin and juicy interior. They’re perfect for snacking, picnics, or as a refreshing side to many family-favourite recipes.
Is Raspberry a Berry?
Despite the name, raspberries aren’t true berries. Every raspberry is made up of small individual fruitlets (called drupelets) that grow from multiple ovaries, each with a tiny seed inside. That makes raspberries closer to a cluster of tiny stone fruits than a single berry. If you’re after the berry experience without the botany debate, these mixed-berry compote pancakes are a sweet and satisfying choice.
Is a Cherry a Berry?
Nope, cherries are stone fruits, not berries. They have a single hard pit (or stone) inside, which classifies them alongside plums and peaches. They may look and feel like berries, but botanically, they belong to the drupe family.