Is sugarcane a fruit or a vegetable?

Surprisingly, sugarcane is neither a fruit nor a vegetable! It's actually a type of tall perennial grass belonging to the Poaceae family. Despite its sweet juice and resemblance to some fruits, its structure and botanical classification place it firmly in the grass category.

The thick stalks of sugarcane contain a high concentration of sucrose, the main component of table sugar. This is why sugarcane is primarily cultivated for sugar production, not human consumption directly. While some people do chew on sugarcane stalks for the sweet juice, it's not a common food source due to its fibrous texture.

So, when you next encounter sugarcane, remember that it's not a fruit or vegetable, but a remarkable grass that provides the sweetness we enjoy in many foods!