10 'Nuts' That Aren't Technically Nuts

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of trivia at a gathering? The next time you’re at a social event and mixed nuts are served, take the opportunity to inform everyone that many of the delicious snacks we refer to as nuts aren’t actually nuts in the botanical sense. According to botanists, a true nut is a dry, single-seeded fruit with a hard ovary wall (known as a pericarp). Real nuts are firmly attached to their shells and don’t naturally split open when they mature. Hazelnuts and chestnuts meet this definition, but these popular snacks do not.

1. Peanuts

The key component of America’s beloved nut butter isn’t a nut at all. Peanuts are classified as legumes, similar to soybeans, lentils, and chickpeas. Unlike true nuts, most legumes grow in pods that open on their own—and these pods may grow either above or below the ground, depending on the species. 

2. Almonds

These almonds develop within a soft, fleshy fruit. | onairjiw/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Almonds are seeds that grow inside the soft, peach-like fruits of the Asian Prunus dulcis tree. They make this list because true nuts don’t form within soft fruit tissue. Botanists classify almonds as drupe seeds, which are seeds found inside fruits with a hard inner shell and soft outer flesh, similar to peach pits.

3. Cashews

Similar to almonds, cashews are drupe seeds extracted from soft, fleshy fruits. These popular trail mix ingredients emerge from vibrant red, yellow, or green “cashew apples” found on trees in South America. Cashew seeds are encased in a toxic outer shell, which is roasted to remove the harmful acid. Despite this natural defense,

Portuguese explorers quickly adopted these tasty treats and spread them worldwide.

4. Walnuts

The walnuts this squirrel is munching on are drupes, not true nuts. | Serhii Ivashchuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Here’s another member of the drupe family! Walnuts grow inside green fruits on trees belonging to the Juglans genus, which thrive in temperate climates. Most walnuts consumed in the U.S. come from the English walnut tree, Juglans regia [PDF]. Even if you don’t eat the drupes, their shells have practical uses, appearing in products ranging from cosmetics to kitty litter.

5. Pine nuts

Around 20 species of pine trees, such as the Italian stone pine, produce large seeds that are harvested in large quantities. These seeds are carefully extracted from pine cones, a labor-intensive process that explains their high market value.

5. Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are widespread throughout the Amazon rainforest, found in countries like Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. They grow inside a tough 4-to-6-pound pod that holds up to 24 seeds, each with the potential to grow into a tree. These pods are so heavy that being struck by a falling one can cause serious injury or even death. Interestingly, Brazil nuts can also be slightly radioactive due to the trees' deep roots absorbing radium from the soil.

7. Macadamia Nuts

An Australian macadamia orchard brimming with the nation's native drupe. | oxime/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Gympie, Queensland, holds a unique distinction: Around 70 percent of the world’s macadamia nuts trace their origins to trees cultivated in this Australian town. Macadamias are an ecological cornerstone in Queensland and New South Wales. However, their so-called “nuts” are, in fact, drupes.

8. Pistachios

Pistachios are not only drupes but also feature shells that naturally split open with a distinct popping sound when the seeds inside reach maturity. Despite this, pistachios remain a snack endorsed by Frank Drebin.

9. Pecans

The English word pecan originates from the Algonquian term meaning “nut that requires a stone to crack.” Wild pecans are native to Mexico and the United States, making them a genuine North American gem. Despite their name, pecans aren’t true nuts. Botanists classify them as drupes, though their hard shells sometimes earn them the term “drupaceous nuts.” Regardless, they’re perfect for making delicious pies.

10. Coconuts

This playful monkey appears to be savoring its tasty drupe. | Volga2012/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The coconut, a massive drupe, is a fibrous powerhouse containing a single seed. Its white, fleshy interior can be soaked in hot water and squeezed through a cloth to yield coconut milk. Additionally, the tough outer shells have inspired some of the most eccentric Guinness World Records categories, including “most green coconuts smashed with the head in one minute.” (Explore more unusual Guinness World Record categories here.)