Is Coconut A Legume?

A coconut is not a legume. It's actually a drupe — a type of fruit with a fleshy outer layer surrounding a hard shell with a seed inside. Think peaches, cherries, and olives.

Legumes are plants in the family Fabaceae, which produce seeds in pods. Examples include beans, lentils, peanuts, and chickpeas. Coconuts grow on palm trees (Cocos nucifera), which are monocots — completely different from legumes.

Fun fact: The word "coconut" comes from 16th-century Portuguese sailors who thought the three holes on the coconut shell resembled a face, calling it "coco" (meaning "grinning face" or "grimace"). 🥥👀