Bell pepper
Bell peppers, with their plump, glossy curves and vibrant hues—ranging from green to red, yellow, and even purple—are a staple in kitchens and gardens around the world. But nature has a playful side, and several fruits out there share a surprisingly similar look.
If you’ve ever spotted a fruit and done a double take thinking it was a bell pepper, you’re not alone. Here’s a lineup of fruits that bear an uncanny resemblance to bell peppers in form, color, or overall vibe.
1. Rose Apple
Smooth and glossy with a bell or pear-like shape, the rose apple often resembles a red or green bell pepper at first glance. Its thin skin and bulbous base taper gently, mimicking the curves of sweet peppers.
2. Chayote (When Small and Red Varieties)
While typically pale green and wrinkled, some small or reddish chayote cultivars resemble mildly misshapen bell peppers. Their ribbed surface and thick flesh give off a pepper-like presence, especially when held in the palm.
3. Cashew Apple
The cashew apple is shiny, waxy, and shaped like a squat bell pepper. Often yellow, red, or orange, its inflated, juicy body strongly resembles a pepper — with the cashew nut perched oddly on top like a stem cap.
4. Pitanga (Surinam Cherry)
This fruit has a deeply ridged surface and ripens to a glossy red, making it resemble a decorative mini pepper or chili. Its grooved body and vibrant coloring can trick the eye into thinking it’s a spicy variety.
5. Tamarillo (Tree Tomato)
Oblong and smooth, the tamarillo mimics the shape of a long, slender chili or finger pepper. Its shiny red or yellow skin and pointed ends enhance the pepper-like illusion, especially when dangling from a stem.