Alright everyone, today's language
lesson is for French.
Coque = shell or husk
Coquille = shell
Fruits de coque = Fruits from shells = tree nuts
Fruits de mer = fruits from the sea = shellfish
And:
Fruits sechées = dried fruit = dried fruit
Fruits secs = dry fruit = nuts, and sometimes seeds
Because why not?
(Actually, because fruit sec means fruit that's dry on its own, as in kernels, as in nuts or seeds.)
(Actually, because fruit sec means fruit that's dry on its own, as in kernels, as in nuts or seeds.)
Also:
Noix = walnut
Pécane = pecan
Amande = almond
Noisette = hazelnut
Pistache = pistachio
Tournesol = sunflower (Not a nut, I
know, but just wait...)
Arachide = peanut, technically.
Cacahuète = also peanut
Pinotte = peanut to some who know the
word.
So here's where it gets interesting.
Peanut = arachide = cacahuète. It's all the same thing. BUT...
While some people know that arachide is peanut, I've encountered a very odd misconception by some people here that arachide is a group or family of nuts while cacahuète is the actual
peanut which is then a member of this arachide family. Depending on who
you ask, the arachide “family” can also be believed to include
hazelnuts and/or almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and
even, apparently, olives. It's very odd.
So, go into a bakery and ask an
employee if it contains “des arachides” and you may be sent
running for your life when you're perfectly safe because they're
lumping hazelnuts and almonds in there. And that will happen because almonds and hazelnuts are EVERYWHERE
over here.
Ask if it contains “des cacahuètes”
and you'll often hear 'no' because it's a more expensive import, not traditional, and therefore not very popular at all.
Better yet, just bring a picture.
Now, if anyone knows how this very mistaken concept of certain tree nuts being in an arachide “family” while other tree nuts fall under the “fruit de coque” family came to be, I would be very interested to know how this came about.
It is possible that in some cases they're worried the tree nuts may be contaminated with peanuts or worried that a less-than-honest producer somewhere along the chain might cut their tree nut product with peanut to save a buck.
Disclaimer: I want to make very clear that allergies are not something to be taken lightly and that allergy and cross-contamination awareness herein France are not always great - or even existent - and people with dislikes or "allergies" aren't helping the cause in a place where real allergies are a relatively new phenomenon. You are responsible for your own diligence and vigilance, especially when travelling. Don't be shy. Ask questions and ask them again if you're unsure. Carry your Epi-Pen. Know the local emergency numbers/equivalents to 911. (I think it's 15 for medics and 18 for firefighters, here.) I take no responsibility for any misunderstandings or reactions that happen after reading this post. I'm not a medical professional or expert. Just someone living with a peanut-ingestion allergy. Do your research for your allergies.
