Are you thinking is strawberry a citrus fruit or not? Answer here. Strawberry is a fruit that has been debated for years. Some people say strawberries are citrus, while others say they’re not. This article will answer this question once and for all by discussing what citrus fruits are, what fruits are considered citrus, and examples of citrus fruit. We shall also look into how strawberry relates to other non-citrus fruits like grapes or apple, and why strawberries do /don’t fall into the category of citrus fruit.
What is considered a citrus fruit?
You cannot decide what class a strawberry is without first understanding what citrus fruits are. Citrus fruit is a type of fruit that contains seeds in the middle. These fruits are usually yellow or orange when ripe, but they can also be green or red, depending on their variety.
Citrus fruits have aromatic scents and flavors with high acidity levels. They grow from shrubs that are green throughout the year. These fruits have a unique characteristic; a segmented pulpy flesh. This is a characteristic of the rue family (scientifically).
Whereas the rue is not popular in the US, you can often find its branches on sale in Central and Southern America. Here, the branches are sold for their pleasant fragrances. Some even BELIEVE these braches can bring good luck!
Citrus fruits smell more like cedar. In fact, the name ‘citrus’ came from Greek.
Citrus fruits are all sour and referred to as agrumes. This term translates to ‘sour fruits.’
The most original citrus fruits come from a small group of trees in Southeast Asia, bearing oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, and grapefruits.
There have been many crossbreeds from the main citrus family plants, yielding tens of other varieties. These crossbreeds include lemanderin (mandarin + lemon), tangelo (pomelo + tangerine), limequat (kumquat + lime), and sunquat (kumquat + lemon).
What fruits are citrus
Four fresh fruits fall into the category of citrus fruit. Examples of these citrus fruits include grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, and lemons/limes.
- Grapefruit is a hybrid of shaddock. This fruit has both sweet and sour flavors with thick pulpy flesh.
- Oranges are a hybrid between pomelo and mandarin. This fruit has sweet, tangy flavors with usually very large pulp.
- Tangerines are orange hybrids of mandarin oranges families, with a touch of pomelo that has been cultivated in Europe for centuries. They were first grown in China and have become a popular fruit in the US.
- Lemons are hybrids between citron papeda (native to southern Asia) with sour female oranges that are tangy when they’re ripe. Lemons are very acidic, which is why you might use them for cooking or baking. Limes also fall into this category of fruit with the same properties.
Non-citrus fruits are grapes, strawberries, pears, apples, kiwis, and pineapple. These types of fruit have seeds in their center and have a sweet flavor profile. This is what differentiates them from being classified as citrus fruits.
Examples of citrus fruit
Some common examples of citrus fruits include lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines.
Do strawberries have citrus
Strawberries have an acidic taste, which makes many people consider them citrus fruits. While, in fact, strawberries are not citrus fruits, they are acidic, and indeed, have a large percentage of citric acid, accounting for the acidity in them.
When unripe, strawberries have low sugar content, generally about 5%, but are very acidic. The sugar content rises to about 9% on ripening, while the acidity falls, resulting in the sweet taste. Citric acid makes up 88% of the acid content. The other acids include malic and ellagic acids.
Strawberries do not fit the classification of citrus fruits because they have a sweet flavor profile with low acidity levels. These types of fruit also fall into their own category, known as the Rosaceae family or the family of rose flowers.
Non-citrus fruits are often mistaken as being a type of citrus berry due to similar traits in shape and texture, but they are not classified as such. Non-citrus fruits may or may not have a seed in the center, depending on their species.
Other rose family fruits in the same class as strawberries include apples, pears, and plums.
Some other fruits in the Rosaceae family include peaches, apricots, cherries, nectarines, and blackberries.
Why strawberry is not a citrus fruit
Strawberries are not classified as citrus fruits because they do not fall in the same botanical class as citrus fruits. Strawberries fall under their own category, called the Rosaceae family.
Citrus fruits are sour and acidic in taste with thick pulpy flesh that have seeds inside of them. On the other hand, strawberries are sweet-tasting but also lack thick and fleshy rind. Strawberry has many seeds and is classified as a berry.
This is why strawberry does not fit the classification of citrus fruits because they have different taste, texture and botanical classifications. This makes them very unique in their own way!
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Frequently asked questions
What fruits are not citrus?
Some common fruits that are not classified as citrus fruit include apples, pears, grapes, and kiwi. These fruits are in the rose family, despite their close resemblance to citrus fruits.
What are the original citrus fruits?
The original types of citrus include grapefruits, oranges, lemons/limes, and tangerines. These types of fruit are sour and acidic in taste, with thick pulpy flesh that has very few seeds.
What are non-citrus fruits?
Non-citrus fruits include strawberries, apples, pears, grapes, and pineapples. These particular types of fruits have seeds inside them but oftentimes they possess a sweet flavor profile.
What are non-citrus fruits?
Non-citrus fruits are grapes, strawberries, pears, apples, kiwis, and pineapple. These specific types of fruit have seeds in their center and a sweet flavor profile, differentiating them from being classified as citrus fruits.
Wrap up
In conclusion, strawberries are not citrus fruits because they have a sweet flavor profile with low acidity levels. These types of fruit also fall into their own category, known as the Rosaceae family, or the rose flowers family. Compared to citrus fruits, strawberries are very prone to damage in transit.
If you didn’t know where to classify strawberries, you now have the answers.