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Is an Almond a Fruit?

Published in Drupe Fruit 2 mins read

Yes, an almond is a fruit. More specifically, it's a drupe.

Understanding the Botanical Classification

While we commonly refer to almonds as nuts, botanically speaking, they are classified as drupes. A drupe is a type of fruit with a fleshy outer layer (the husk), a hard shell (the endocarp), and a seed inside (what we eat). Peaches, plums, and cherries are other examples of drupes. The almond "nut" is actually this seed.

Several sources confirm this classification:

In short, while culinary use might classify almonds as nuts, the botanical classification identifies them as the seed of a drupe fruit.