13 Shocking Foods That Aren’t What You Thought They Were

When you think of certain foods, you probably assume what category it falls into. However, some common foods are actually related to some families you never would have guessed!

Bananas Are Herbs

Bananas are a perennial that grows from a bulb rather than a seed. These bulbs regenerate with new shoots every year, much like orchids. This similarity is actually because bananas are giant herbs that are related to the orchid family.

A Strawberry Isn’t An Actual Berry

Really, strawberries do not meet the criteria for being a berry. The literal definition of berry is a fleshy fruit with a large seed in the center. The seeds of a strawberry are all over the outside of the fruit. It is told that children picking the strawberries would string them on straws of grass and called them straws of berries.

Oranges, Lemons, And Tomatoes Are Berries

Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are from the berry family. Strangely enough so are tomatoes. Their seeds are inside the fruit. That puts them in the berry category. As these fruits have many seeds, they are in the specialized berry category. Pictured is more of a Strawberry than the previous slide.

Eggplants Are Fruits

The eggplant gets its name from its shape, but it is classified in the berry family of fruit. Thomas Jefferson introduced this berry to North America by growing several varieties in his gardens in Virginia. In England the eggplant was thought to cause madness. It was used for decoration.

Coffee Beans Aren’t Beans – They’re Fruit Pits

Coffee beans are not really beans. They are in fact a seed from a fruit. The fruit is called coffee cherries or coffee berries. They are removed from their fruit, dried and or roasted for grinding an brewing.

Almonds Are Members Of The Peach Family

Have you ever noticed how an almond looks like a peach seed? The reason is because they are from the same plant family. If you look at the picture, they’re actually all fuzzy just like a peach!

Apples Are Part Of The Rose Family

Due to how the apple blossom grows, it is part of the rose family. The petals form much like a rose petal. The apple fruit grows from the blossom. There are 7,500 varieties of apples only 100 are commercially grown. Have a look at these delicious looking apples shaped like a rose.

Watermelon Is A Vegetable

A watermelon is in the same category as a cucumber. A watermelon is a fruit and a vegetable. Squash, pumpkin and cucumbers all share this category due to its edible rind.

Avacado Is A Fruit

An avocado is in fact in the fruit family due to its meaty, good-tasting flesh and its single seed contained inside. This fruit skin is much like the orange or lemon rind, just a little thinner.

Chili Peppers Aren’t Peppers

They were however used in place of pepper due to their strong, peppery flavor. The chili pepper is really in the nightshade family of vegetables which include bell peppers and white potatoes.

Asparagus Is Related To Garlic, Onions, And Leeks

The lily family of plants features many edibles. Onions, leeks, garlic an even asparagus are among the edible lily plants. Asparagus shares hangover-easing effects just as onions, garlic and leeks. They boost enzyme levels to eliminate the alcohol in the blood.

Broccoli And Cauliflower Are Flowers

Cauliflower is really a flower. Broccoli is too. They are flowering members of the cabbage family. Turnips and Brussels sprouts are also part of the collection of plant vegetables.

Onions Are Part Of The Lily Family

Onions look a lot like a lily bulb. In fact, they are part of the lily family of plants. This family of plants is mostly ornamental, but a few like the onion are edible. Other edibles in the lily family include leeks and garlic.