Brown is an earthy, natural color that can lend a feeling of warmth, comfort and reliability. Many things in nature display shades of brown, from tree trunks to autumn leaves. Brown is also associated with wholesome foods like bread, coffee and chocolate. In this article, we’ll explore some of the coolest and most interesting things that are brown in color.
Brown in Nature
Some of the coolest things that are brown are found in the natural world around us. Tree trunks, branches, sticks and bark display an array of brown hues, from light tan to deep chocolate. The brown color comes from melanin, which helps protect tree bark from sun damage. Brown leaves in autumn are also a gorgeous sight, as chlorophyll breaks down and reveals the underlying pigments. Rich brown soil nurtures plants and provides nutrients for growth. Animals like bears, deer, squirrels, dogs, horses, cows and foxes are covered in beautiful brown fur, hair and hides. Brown feathers adorn birds like eagles, hawks, owls, chickens, sparrows and ducks.
| Brown Things in Nature |
|---|
| Tree trunks |
| Branches |
| Sticks |
| Bark |
| Autumn leaves |
| Soil |
| Bear fur |
| Deer fur |
| Squirrel fur |
| Dog fur |
| Horse hair |
| Cow hides |
| Fox fur |
| Eagle feathers |
| Hawk feathers |
| Owl feathers |
| Chicken feathers |
| Sparrow feathers |
| Duck feathers |
Brown Foods and Drinks
Many delicious foods and beverages are brown in color. Coffee is brewed from the roasted brown beans of the Coffea plant. The toasting process brings out the signature dark brown color and rich, robust flavor. Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao tree, which are dried, fermented and roasted to develop the characteristic deep brown color. Whole wheat bread gets its nutty brown hue from the bran and germ, which contain healthy nutrients. Nuts like almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts have brown outer shells or skins protecting the edible seeds inside. Brown rice, pasta, crackers and cereals contain the nutrient-dense bran layer that white varieties lack. Beer, bourbon, rum and whiskey get their golden or amber brown tones from malting and fermenting grain.
| Brown Foods and Drinks |
|---|
| Coffee beans |
| Coffee |
| Cocoa beans |
| Chocolate |
| Whole wheat bread |
| Almond skins |
| Pecan skins |
| Walnut shells |
| Hazelnut skins |
| Chestnut shells |
| Brown rice |
| Brown pasta |
| Brown crackers |
| Brown cereal |
| Beer |
| Bourbon |
| Rum |
| Whiskey |
Brown Minerals and Gems
The earth produces amazing brown minerals, gems and stones. Umber, raw sienna, and burnt sienna are brown pigments made from clay containing iron oxide. Sumptuous tiger’s eye gemstone displays bands of rich golden brown color. Mahogany obsidian is a glossy brown volcanic glass. Bronzite is a metallic brown igneous rock. Smoky quartz can range from light tan to almost black. Multicolored agate nodules often include swirls of brown. Petrified wood forms when buried logs turn to stone and retain their original brown hues. Copper ores like tenorite and malachite are important brown minerals.
| Brown Minerals and Gems |
|---|
| Umber |
| Raw sienna |
| Burnt sienna |
| Tiger’s eye |
| Mahogany obsidian |
| Bronzite |
| Smoky quartz |
| Agate |
| Petrified wood |
| Tenorite |
| Malachite |
Brown Man-Made Items
Humans have created many useful and interesting brown products. Classic brown leather sees use in jackets, boots, belts, wallets, purses and furniture upholstery. Dark brown cardboard shipping boxes keep contents safe in transport. Rich brown wooden furniture, floors and construction materials add warmth to homes. Brown paper bags offer eco-friendly grocery carrying. Dark brown balsamic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and steak sauce provide savory flavor. Brown sugar contains molasses for sweetness and moisture. Useful brown tools include hammers, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. Classic brown uniforms include UPS, UPS, police, and wilderness ranger outfits.
| Brown Man-Made Items |
|---|
| Leather |
| Cardboard boxes |
| Wood furniture |
| Wood floors |
| Wood construction |
| Paper bags |
| Balsamic vinegar |
| Soy sauce |
| Worcestershire sauce |
| Steak sauce |
| Brown sugar |
| Hammers |
| Saws |
| Screwdrivers |
| Wrenches |
| Pliers |
| UPS uniforms |
| USPS uniforms |
| Police uniforms |
| Ranger uniforms |
Brown Animals
Many cool animals are decked out in brown. Bears are the quintessential brown animal, with fur ranging from black to cinnamon. Deer, moose, elk and caribou sport brown fur coats. Beavers, squirrels, mice, rats and porcupines have that classic brown rodent look. Wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, raccoons and badgers are covered in gorgeous brown fur. Hippos, rhinos and elephants have thick, leathery brown-gray skin. Horses, donkeys, cows, bison and camels display shades of brown hair and hides. Smaller brown critters include rabbits, hares, hamsters, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, moles, chipmunks, weasels and shrews.
| Brown Animals |
|---|
| Bears |
| Deer |
| Moose |
| Elk |
| Caribou |
| Beavers |
| Squirrels |
| Mice |
| Rats |
| Porcupines |
| Wolves |
| Foxes |
| Coyotes |
| Dingoes |
| Raccoons |
| Badgers |
| Hippos |
| Rhinos |
| Elephants |
| Horses |
| Donkeys |
| Cows |
| Bison |
| Camels |
| Rabbits |
| Hares |
| Hamsters |
| Guinea pigs |
| Hedgehogs |
| Moles |
| Chipmunks |
| Weasels |
| Shrews |
Brown Insects
Insects and other arthropods also come in shades of brown. Ants, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes commonly have brown exoskeletons. Termites and woodlice blend in with their brown woody environments. Butterflies and moths like the owl, emperor, sparrow, owlet and woolly bear have brown and orange wings. The brown recluse spider and brown widow spider get their namesake color. Brown slugs, snails, crabs, lobsters, shrimps and barnacles inhabit marine environments.
| Brown Insects |
|---|
| Ants |
| Cockroaches |
| Crickets |
| Grasshoppers |
| Beetles |
| Flies |
| Mosquitoes |
| Fleas |
| Ticks |
| Spiders |
| Scorpions |
| Centipedes |
| Millipedes |
| Termites |
| Woodlice |
| Owl butterfly |
| Emperor moth |
| Sparrow moth |
| Owlet moth |
| Woolly bear caterpillar |
| Brown recluse spider |
| Brown widow spider |
| Brown slugs |
| Snails |
| Crabs |
| Lobsters |
| Shrimp |
| Barnacles |
Brown Places
There are many cool brown places around the world. The Gobi Desert in Asia has vast expanses of brown, sandy terrain. Australia’s Red Center gets its rusty brown color from iron oxide in the soil. The Rocky Mountains in North America contain brown peaks and foothills. Brown prairie landscapes stretch across the Midwestern United States and Canada. The Amazon rainforest has brown tree trunks rising from the canopy. Morocco’s sand dunes and kasbahs shimmer in brown hues. Buddhist temples in Tibet are painted rich earth tones. Brown rice paddies cover terraced fields in China, Japan and Indonesia.
| Brown Places |
|---|
| Gobi Desert, Asia |
| Red Center, Australia |
| Rocky Mountains, North America |
| Midwestern prairies, North America |
| Amazon rainforest, South America |
| Moroccan dunes and kasbahs, Africa |
| Tibetan Buddhist temples, Asia |
| Rice paddies, Asia |
Brown in Pop Culture
Brown plays an important role in many beloved pop culture franchises. Jedi Knight robes in Star Wars films are simple brown hoods and tunics. The DeLorean time machine was an iconic gull wing brown sports car in Back to the Future. Walnut brown wands choose wizards in the Harry Potter universe. UPS delivery trucks and uniforms are that recognizable pullman brown color. Author Dan Brown wrote thriller novels like The Da Vinci Code about secret religious societies. Groot is a heroic sentient tree with brown bark in Guardians of the Galaxy. The classic Nintendo Entertainment System was a small boxy brown console.
| Brown in Pop Culture |
|---|
| Jedi robes in Star Wars |
| DeLorean car in Back to the Future |
| Wands in Harry Potter |
| UPS trucks and uniforms |
| Dan Brown novels |
| Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy |
| Nintendo Entertainment System |
Conclusion
Brown may be an overlooked color, but it represents some of the coolest and most memorable people, places, animals, foods, natural wonders and pop culture icons. From cozy brown leather to luscious chocolate, hardy oak trees to majestic bald eagles, brown encapsulates beauty, strength, wholesomeness and reliability. The next time you see something brown, take a moment to appreciate the visual charm and symbolism behind this earthy, natural shade.
