Yes, a brinjal (also known as eggplant or aubergine) is botanically a fruit.
Understanding the Botanical Definition of a Fruit
A fruit, in botanical terms, develops from the flower of a plant and contains seeds. Brinjals fit this definition perfectly. They grow from the flowers of the Solanaceae family (nightshade family) and contain seeds within their fleshy pulp. Multiple sources, including Quora, Wikipedia, and Healthline, confirm this botanical classification as a berry.
Culinary vs. Botanical Classification
While botanically a fruit, brinjals are commonly used as vegetables in cooking. This difference arises from culinary classification, which often depends on taste, texture, and how the plant part is used in recipes. Many fruits are used as vegetables in cooking (e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers). The Reddit post highlights this distinction between culinary and botanical classifications.
Key Characteristics Supporting Brinjal as a Fruit:
- Development from a flower: Brinjals develop from the plant's flowers.
- Presence of seeds: They contain numerous seeds inside their flesh.
- Botanical family: They belong to the Solanaceae family, which includes other botanical fruits used as vegetables (e.g., tomatoes).
- Berry classification: Botanically, they are classified as berries.
This information is corroborated by numerous sources including Byju's, Vedantu, and HealthySD.gov. Even articles focusing on their health benefits, like the one from DNA India, classify them as fruits.
