Almonds, or badam, are technically seeds.
Here's why:
- Botanical Classification: While commonly referred to as nuts in culinary contexts, almonds are the seeds of the almond tree (Prunus dulcis).
- Drupe Fruit: The almond tree produces a fruit called a drupe. A drupe is a fleshy fruit with a hard shell (the endocarp) enclosing a seed. Examples of other drupes include peaches, plums, and cherries.
- The Almond Seed: When you eat an almond, you are consuming the seed found inside that hard shell. The fleshy part of the almond fruit isn't typically eaten.
Therefore, from a botanical perspective, badam is classified as a seed, specifically the seed found inside a drupe fruit.
