When you think of berries, strawberries and blueberries might come to mind. But, there are many other fruits that are berries according to science, even if they don’t look like what you’d expect.
Berries are typically known as small, juicy fruits filled with vitamins. This is true for many berries, but there are surprising fruits that are also berries.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Fruit a Berry?
A berry, by definition, comes from one flower with one ovary and usually has many seeds. Berries can be different shapes, sizes, and colors. Let’s take a look at some fruits that are berries, but might not look like it.
Unexpected Fruits That Are Berries
Here’s a list of 10 fruits you might be surprised to learn are berries:
1. Avocado
The avocado, with a tough green skin and a big pit, is a type of berry. Its flesh is made up of many sections linked together. This structure and the single seed inside make avocados berries.
Avocados aren’t like most berries that have several seeds. Instead, they are unique with their one large seed and creamy insides, earning them a spot on the berry list.
2. Tomato
Tomatoes, often used in cooking, are berries too. Like other berries, they grow from a single flower and ovary and have seeds inside.
They come in lots of sizes and colors, and the insides are divided into sections where the seeds sit. This makes tomatoes special among the berry family.
3. Banana
Bananas don’t look like typical berries because they are long and have a firm texture. Surprisingly, they are classified as berries.
They are considered berries because they develop from one ovary. Bananas have many sections inside them, which is another characteristic of berries.
Their unusual shape and starchy insides make bananas an intriguing member of the berry world.
4. Watermelon
Watermelon is big and round and known for being juicy. It is also technically a berry.
Watermelons have the same characteristics as other berries, with a single ovary and multiple seeds. But, they are different because of their size and the way they look.
Inside a watermelon, there are lots of small compartments with seeds. This makes watermelon another surprising berry. They are versatile fruits that can be eaten alone or used in a variety of dishes.
5. Kiwi
The kiwi, with its green inside and brown, fuzzy skin, is more than just a tasty fruit. It meets all the qualifications of a berry, with its seedy interior and juicy flavor.
6. Grapes
Grapes fit the typical idea of berries since they are small, round, and sweet. They are true berries with juicy centers and seeds, available in different colors.
7. Papaya
The papaya is a tropical fruit that’s also a berry. It has a soft, sweet flesh and comes from one flower with one ovary. The interior is filled with many seeds, placed within a central cavity, which is a signature trait of berries.
These fruits may look different from what we usually call berries, but scientifically, they have all the right features to be part of the berry family. This means that when it comes to berries, there’s more than meets the eye!
If you look inside a papaya, you’ll see lots of black seeds that you can take out easily. The parts you can eat are made up of tiny sections all along the inside wall. This is what makes papayas different from usual berries, which are normally small and round.
Papayas are a kind of berry with lots of little seeds and a special shape. You can enjoy them fresh, or cook them into jams or smoothies. Papayas are full of good stuff for your body, like vitamins, minerals, and things that keep you healthy. They are super good for you!
8. Eggplant
Eggplants are really useful in cooking. They make your food taste better. What’s interesting is that eggplants are actually berries! They’re kind of squishy and have lots of seeds inside, which is what a berry is in the plant world.
9. Peppers
Some people like hot peppers, and some like sweet ones. But no matter which you like, these colorful veggies are actually berries. They’re juicy on the inside and have lots of seeds, just like berries are supposed to.
10. Cucumber
Cucumbers are also berries because they are juicy and have seeds inside. They have thin skin and are crunchy and a bit sweet. Cucumbers have stuff that’s good for your body, like vitamins and minerals. They give you fiber for a healthy stomach, potassium for your heart, and vitamin A for your eyes. You can eat cucumbers raw, or put them in salads, sandwiches, or even smoothies. They’re really useful!
Conclusion
It’s funny how some fruits we think are berries aren’t, and some fruits we don’t think are berries actually are. It’s cool to learn about how fruits are really classified. Lots of different fruits are berries, and each one is good for you and tasty. From sour kiwi to spicy peppers, these berries are great for our meals. With so many kinds, you’ll always have fun eating berries!
