No, an almond seed is not a peach.
While both almonds and peaches belong to the Prunus genus, they are distinct species. A peach is the fruit of the peach tree (Prunus persica), with a fleshy outer part surrounding a hard pit that contains the seed. An almond, on the other hand, is primarily the seed of the almond tree (Prunus dulcis).
Here's a breakdown:
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Peach: Prunus persica - The fleshy fruit surrounds a hard pit which contains the seed. We typically eat the flesh.
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Almond: Prunus dulcis - Primarily the seed (what's inside the shell) is consumed. The outer part of the almond is a hull which is removed before sale.
Although almonds are seeds from a plant within the same family (Prunus) as fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots, which contain amygdalin, almonds are generally safe to eat. Amygdalin can break down into cyanide, which is toxic. However, cultivated almonds typically have very low levels of amygdalin.
Therefore, almonds are not peaches, but rather seeds from a different species within the same plant family.
