When we think of healthy snacks, one common go-to is a handful of nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and peanuts. But did you know that peanuts are not actually nuts? That’s right! Although we casually refer to them as part of the nut family, peanuts belong to a completely different botanical group. In everyday language, this term 'nut' is used broadly for various edible seeds with a hard shell.
Now, due to 'nut' in its name, most people may often confuse a peanut for a nut, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, etc. If you have also found yourself asking, 'Are peanuts the same as nuts?', then this article will clear all the doubts for you. Today, we will answer the most commonly asked question: What is the difference between peanuts and nuts?
What Are Nuts?
When we define nuts, we are looking at a broader group of nuts known as tree nuts that grow on trees, including those that are true botanical nuts and those that are drupes.
In botanical terms, a nut (or true botanical nut) is a type of dry, hard fruit that consists of a hard, woody shell (pericarp) enclosing a single seed (called a kernel) that is typically edible. Examples of true botanical nuts include acorns, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. True nuts come from the family Fagaceae (e.g., oaks and chestnuts).
A nut typically contains a single seed encased within a tough, woody outer wall known as the pericarp. Nuts do not open naturally to release their seed. This key characteristic classifies them as indehiscent, distinguishing them from fruits like legumes or capsules.
A nut develops from a flower with more than one carpel—the female reproductive organs of the flower. These carpels are fused to form a syncarpous gynoecium, which matures into a hard, compound ovary. This botanical structure contributes to the toughness of the nut shell. The pericarp (the wall of the ovary) becomes thick, hard, and woody in true nuts, enclosing the seed tightly. This shell protects the seed from predation and environmental damage.
Now, you may ask why we also refer to almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and Brazil nuts as nuts? In everyday language, we often lump together a wide variety of edible seeds under the label "nuts", but widely referred to as nuts, these tree nuts are the seeds of dry drupes that do not meet the botanical definition of a true nut but share characteristics with true nuts.
Drupes (Botanical Definition): A drupe is a fleshy fruit with a thin skin and a hard stone (endocarp) that surrounds a single seed. In the case of the following, it's the kernel inside that hard stone that we eat.
- Almonds: Seed of a drupe (the shell is the endocarp).
- Cashews: Seed attached to an accessory fruit (cashew apple).
- Pistachios: Seed of a drupe (the shell is the endocarp).
- Walnuts: Seed of a drupe (with a leathery husk).
- Macadamia Nuts: Technically follicles (a dry fruit that splits open), but with a very hard shell.
- Pecans: Seed of a drupe.
- Brazil Nuts: Seeds from a capsule-like fruit.
Also read: Difference Between Curd and Yogurt
What are Peanuts?
Peanuts are legumes, not nuts.
Peanuts, scientifically known as Arachis hypogaea, are commonly referred to by various names such as groundnuts, goober peas, or monkey nuts.
Despite their name and culinary use, peanuts are not true nuts, they belong to the legume family (Fabaceae), which also includes beans, lentils, and peas.
What sets peanuts apart from most legumes is their unique growth habit: after pollination, the plant's flowers bend down, and the pods develop underground. This unusual trait earned them their species name “hypogaea,” meaning “under the earth.”
Peanuts are primarily cultivated for their edible seeds and are widely grown across tropical and subtropical regions. They serve as both a food crop and an oilseed crop, valued for their rich protein and fat content.
One of their notable agricultural benefits is their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through symbiotic bacteria found in their root nodules. This makes peanuts a sustainable choice in crop rotation, as they naturally enhance soil fertility and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers.
Comparison Table: Nuts vs. Peanuts
Although both are often grouped under the same culinary category, nuts and peanuts are biologically and botanically different. Their growth habits, classifications, and allergenic properties vary significantly.
| Category | Nuts | Peanuts |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Category | Dry fruit (or drupe) | Legume |
| Family | Various (e.g., Rosaceae) | Fabaceae |
| Growth Habit | Grow above ground on trees | Grow underground in pods |
| Fruit Type | Typically, a single-seed dry fruit with a hard shell | Pod-based fruit that splits open when mature |
| Examples | Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios | Virginia peanuts, Spanish peanuts, Runner peanuts |
| Allergies | Tree nut allergies (less common than peanut allergies) | Peanut allergies (more common and potentially more severe) |
Conclusion
So, are peanuts really nuts? The next time someone asks you while casually tossing a peanut into their mouth, you would know that despite a 'nut' in their name and their crunchy presence in every mixed-nut bowl, peanuts are legumes, not nuts.
Also read: Difference Between Repo Rate and Reverse Repo Rate
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation