Dry fruits are made by drying fresh fruits until their water content drops. This process keeps them flavorful and compact. Common ones include dates, raisins, and cashews, and each has a distinct use in food. You’ll learn dry fruits names in English with pictures, which is helpful when reading packets, cooking, or teaching fruit-related vocabulary.
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What Are Dry Fruits?
Dry fruits are fruits that have had most of their water content removed, either naturally or through drying methods like sun drying or dehydration. This process makes them smaller, sweeter, and longer lasting. They are usually eaten as snacks or used in cooking, baking, and traditional dishes in many cultures.
Common Dry Fruits Names in English
Below is a list of common dry fruits used worldwide. These are easy to recognize and often part of regular snacks, meals, or desserts.
- Almond: Hard, light brown seed that’s often eaten raw or soaked.
- Cashew: Curved, creamy nut used in sweets and roasted snacks.
- Raisin: Dried grape that’s sweet, chewy, and dark or golden in color.
- Fig: Soft, seedy, and naturally sweet with a chewy texture.
- Date: Long, sticky fruit with sugary taste and soft flesh.
- Apricot: Yellow-orange fruit that tastes mildly tangy and sweet.
- Pistachio: Greenish nut with a beige shell, used in both sweets and snacks.
- Walnut: Crinkled kernel with earthy flavor, comes from a hard shell.
- Peanut: Two-seed nut in a tan pod, often roasted or salted.
- Hazelnut: Small round nut with hard skin and buttery flavor.
- Prune: Dried version of a plum, chewy and slightly sticky.
- Dried Cranberry: Tart red berry that’s sweetened and dried.
- Dried Blueberry: Tiny purple berries that taste rich and sweet.
- Dried Apple: Soft slices with gentle sweetness and pale color.
- Dried Banana: Round, yellow chips that are crispy or chewy.
- Dried Papaya: Colorful slices with soft bite and tropical flavor.
- Dried Pineapple: Golden and fibrous fruit with tangy sweetness.
Types of Dry Fruits by Source
Dry fruits can be grouped by the plant type they grow on. Below is a chart of those that come from trees and those from shrubs or vines.
Tree-Based
These dry fruits come from large trees and are harvested when ripe.
- Almond
- Pistachio
- Walnut
- Cashew
- Hazelnut
- Brazil Nut
- Macadamia
- Pine Nut
Shrub or Vine-Based
These grow on smaller plants or creepers, and often sun-dried after picking.
- Raisin
- Fig
- Date
- Apricot
- Sultana
- Currant
Dry Fruits in Cooking and Baking
Dry fruits are used for flavor and texture in food. Below is a list divided into sweet and savory uses.
Sweets and Desserts
These dry fruits are popular in cakes, puddings, and festival treats.
- Cashew
- Raisin
- Date
- Fig
- Apricot
- Almond
- Prune
- Dried Cherry
- Dried Cranberry
- Sultana
Savory Dishes
Dry fruits in this list are used to give crunch or flavor to rice, curry, and stuffing.
- Almond
- Pistachio
- Walnut
- Cashew
- Pine Nut
- Sunflower Seed
Difference Between Dry Fruits and Nuts
Not all dry fruits are the same by science or cooking use. Below is a list based on botanical and culinary types.
Botanical Dry Fruits
These are true fruits by plant science. They come from fruit and carry a seed inside.
- Almond
- Walnut
- Pistachio
- Hazelnut
- Macadamia
- Brazil Nut
Culinary Nuts
Used like nuts in kitchens, but not all are fruits by botany.
- Peanut
- Cashew
- Pine Nut
- Sultana
Dry Fruits by Region
Dry fruits are used in different parts of the world. Below are examples grouped by cultural and regional cuisines.
Mediterranean
Used in snacks and bread across Greece, Turkey, and nearby regions.
- Fig
- Date
- Apricot
- Raisin
- Dried Black Olive
Middle Eastern
Often added to rice, pastries, and stuffed dishes.
- Pistachio
- Almond
- Date
- Dried Mulberry
- Dried Apricot
Indian Cuisine
Dry fruits are added to sweets, kheer, pulao, and dry snacks.
- Cashew
- Raisin
- Cardamom-Coated Dry Fruits
- Dried Coconut
- Betel Nut
- Charoli
Dry Fruits for Kids in English
These dry fruits are soft, colorful, and sweet, making them easier for kids to remember and enjoy.
- Almond
- Cashew
- Raisin
- Peanut
- Date
- Dried Banana
- Dried Apple
- Dried Papaya
Dry Fruits with Shells
Some dry fruits come with hard shells. Below is a list of those that need cracking before eating.
- Almond
- Walnut
- Pistachio
- Hazelnut
- Brazil Nut
- Macadamia
Soft Chewy Dry Fruits
These dry fruits are moist, sweet, and soft to chew. They are easier for younger or older people.
- Date
- Fig
- Raisin
- Apricot
- Prune
- Dried Cherry
- Dried Mango
- Dried Strawberry
Rare and Uncommon Dry Fruits
These dry fruits may not be available everywhere but are still known and used in mixes or special recipes.
- Brazil Nut
- Macadamia
- Pine Nut
- Sultana
- Prune
- Dried Blueberry
- Dried Cherry
- Dried Mulberry
- Dried Kiwi
- Charoli
- Dried Gooseberry
Dry Fruits for Daily Eating
Some dry fruits are eaten daily because they are easy to find, eat, and store.
- Almond
- Walnut
- Cashew
- Raisin
- Date
- Pistachio
- Peanut
- Prune
- Dried Apple
English Names of Packaged Dry Fruits
Dry fruits are often sold in packets. Below are names written in English on common product labels.
- Almond
- Pistachio
- Raisin
- Cashew
- Date
- Apricot
- Fig
- Walnut
- Dried Cranberry
- Dried Blueberry
- Dried Kiwi
- Dried Mango
- Dried Coconut
- Dried Papaya
- Dried Pear
Snack Mixes with Dry Fruits
Many snack packs include a mix of dry fruits and seeds. Below is a list of common ingredients in these mixes.
- Almond
- Peanut
- Raisin
- Cashew
- Dried Apple
- Sunflower Seed
- Pistachio
- Pumpkin Seed
- Dried Papaya
- Coconut Flake
- Dried Mango
- Dried Kiwi
- Banana Chips
- Dried Pineapple
FAQs about Dry Fruits Names
Dry fruits are dried fruits like raisins, dates, and figs, while nuts like almonds and walnuts are hard-shelled seeds. In cooking, both are used similarly but come from different plant parts.
Most dry fruits like apricots and prunes are sweet, but some like peanuts or roasted cashews are seasoned to taste salty. The natural fruit ones are usually sweet.
The easiest dry fruits for kids are almond, raisin, cashew, date, and peanut. These are short words, easy to identify, and safe in small amounts.
Dry fruits used in Indian food include cashew, raisin, pistachio, date, charoli, and dried coconut. They’re common in sweets, biryani, and festival foods.
You can learn dry fruits names in English with pictures by using labeled charts or educational posts that group them by texture, origin, or daily use.
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