What Fruit Names Begin With the Letter Z?

In the English language, the only fruit name that begins with “z” is “zucchini.” Also known as a courgette, this fruit is a summer squash that is actually part of its parent vine’s flower.

Zucchini is typically treated as a vegetable in culinary preparations because of its sturdy flesh and mild flavor that lends well to zestier savory spices, but scientifically speaking, this long, green squash is really a fruit. Botanical fruits emerge from a plant’s flowers and provide a form of transportation through which the plant stores and then propagates its seeds. Zucchini is a not-so-distant relative of a variety of melons, which are more typically recognized as fruits due to their sweet taste and crisper flesh. If harvested early enough, when the fruit is less than 10 inches in length, zucchinis will retain a sweet taste.

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