why is tomato a fruit

A tomato is considered a fruit because, botanically, it develops from the flower of the tomato plant and contains seeds. Fruits are defined as the seed- bearing structures that grow from the ovary of flowering plants. Hence, tomatoes meet this botanical definition of a fruit. However, tomatoes are commonly used as vegetables in culinary contexts due to their savory flavor, which leads to some confusion. The U.S. Supreme Court even ruled in 1893 that tomatoes should be classified as vegetables for tariff purposes based on their culinary use. Thus, scientifically a tomato is a fruit, but in cooking, it is often treated as a vegetable because of its flavor and usage in savory dishes.