Is an Aubergine a Fruit? Surprising Facts About This Popular Vegetable

Introduction

You slice it into curries, grill it on BBQs, and roast it to perfection—but is an aubergine really a vegetable? Or is it a fruit in disguise?

It may surprise many, but aubergines (also known as eggplants) blur the lines between fruit and vegetable. They’re savoury, meaty, and most often found in the vegetable section, but when it comes to botanical classification, the truth may challenge everything you thought you knew.

In this article, we’ll uncover what an aubergine really is, explore how it’s grown, its health benefits, and why its classification matters. Get ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know about aubergines—plus a few fun facts that might just blow your mind.

What Is an Aubergine?

An aubergine (Solanum melongena) is a glossy, purple-skinned plant from the nightshade family—which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.

It’s known by different names depending on where you are:

• Aubergine – UK, Europe
• Eggplant – USA, Australia
• Brinjal – India, South Africa

It’s technically a berry, and botanically classified as a fruit, even though it’s used as a vegetable in cooking.

Is an Aubergine a Fruit or a Vegetable?

The short answer:

✅ Aubergine is a fruit—botanically speaking.
❌ But it’s treated as a vegetable in the kitchen.

Why is it a fruit?

In botanical terms, a fruit is the part of a plant that develops from the flower and contains seeds. Aubergines:

• Grow from the flower of the plant
• Contain small, edible seeds
• Develop through fertilisation like other fruits

This puts them in the same botanical category as tomatoes, courgettes, and peppers—fruits that we often call vegetables.

The Culinary Confusion

In the kitchen, we group foods by taste and use, not science. So aubergines are commonly referred to as:

• Vegetables due to their savoury flavour
• Main dish ingredients rather than sweet treats
• Ideal for grilling, baking, stewing, and roasting

Just like tomatoes, aubergines defy the sweet rule of fruits and live most of their life in savoury recipes. That’s why most people consider them vegetables—even though they’re technically fruit.

Aubergine vs Other “Vegetable Fruits”

Aubergine isn’t alone in this confusion. Here are a few other surprising fruits:

They all come from flowers and contain seeds—making them fruit by definition, but vegetables in the kitchen.

The Biology of Aubergines

Let’s take a quick look at the plant structure to better understand aubergines:

• Flowering plant: Aubergines start as yellow or purple star-shaped flowers.
• Pollination: Insects (mainly bees) pollinate the flowers.
• Fruit development: After pollination, the fruit forms and matures.
• Seed carrier: The aubergine contains soft, edible seeds inside its flesh.

This lifecycle is typical of fruits—not roots, stems, or leaves, which are traditional vegetable parts.

Nutritional Benefits of Aubergine

Whether it’s a fruit or not, aubergine is a powerhouse of nutrition.

Health highlights:

• High in fibre – Aids digestion and satiety
• Low in calories – Just 25 calories per 100g
• Rich in antioxidants – Especially nasunin, found in the purple skin
• Supports heart health – May reduce cholesterol levels
• Contains vitamins & minerals – Vitamin C, Vitamin K, B6, potassium

It’s also popular in plant-based diets due to its meaty texture, often replacing animal proteins in dishes.

How Aubergines Grow (Step by Step)

If you’re a gardener or allotmenteer, understanding how aubergines grow helps reinforce why they’re fruits.

Growth stages:

1. Seed sowing – Indoors from February–March (UK)
2. Germination – 7–14 days in warmth
3. Flowering – Yellow-purple blooms appear after 6–8 weeks
4. Fruit set – Pollinated flowers form small green fruits
5. Fruit development – Grow into glossy purple aubergines over 2–3 weeks
6. Harvest – When fruits are glossy and firm (usually July–September)

Each fruit grows from a flower, confirming its fruit classification.

Fun Facts About Aubergines

• 🍆 “Eggplant” name comes from early white varieties that resembled goose eggs.
• 🍆 Aubergines are native to India and Southeast Asia.
• 🍆 There are purple, white, green, and striped varieties.
• 🍆 They belong to the same family as deadly nightshade, but are perfectly safe to eat.
• 🍆 You can even grow them successfully in containers or greenhouses in the UK.

Why It Matters: Fruit vs Vegetable Debate

You might be wondering—why does this classification even matter?

Here’s why:

• Botanists use it to understand plant biology and reproduction.
• Cooks use classifications based on flavour and usage.
• Gardeners use it to plan crop rotation—fruiting crops like aubergines take different nutrients than root or leafy crops.
• Nutritionists group foods based on nutrients, not botany.

So while it might not affect your dinner plans, understanding the distinction is a great way to deepen your knowledge of the food you eat—and grow.

Conclusion

So, is an aubergine a fruit?
Yes—botanically, it’s 100% a fruit. It grows from a flower and contains seeds, which ticks all the boxes.
But in the culinary world, it will continue to be treated as a vegetable, thanks to its savoury taste and usage.

Next time you slice into one for your curry or roast it for a veggie traybake, you’ll know you’re technically working with a fruit—just like a tomato or courgette.

Whether you’re a cook, gardener, or curious foodie, the humble aubergine is a delicious reminder that not everything is as it seems!

Top 10 Questions and Answers About Aubergines Being a Fruit

1. Is aubergine a fruit or vegetable?

Botanically a fruit, but culinarily a vegetable.

2. Why is aubergine classified as a fruit?

Because it develops from the flower of the plant and contains seeds.

3. Is aubergine related to tomatoes and peppers?

Yes, all are in the nightshade family (Solanaceae).

4. Can you eat aubergine seeds?

Yes, they’re soft and edible.

5. What does aubergine taste like?

Mild, savoury, slightly bitter when raw, creamy and rich when cooked.

6. Are there different types of aubergines?

Yes—purple, white, green, striped, round, and long varieties.

7. Can I grow aubergines in the UK?

Yes, in greenhouses or sunny, sheltered spots outdoors.

8. Is aubergine good for you?

Very! It’s high in fibre, low in calories, and packed with antioxidants.

9. Is aubergine a berry?

Technically, yes—botanically, it’s considered a type of berry.

10. Why is it called eggplant in the US?

Because early varieties were white and egg-shaped—hence “egg-plant.”