Brown is a very common color in nature and everyday objects. Many things around us like wood, soil, nuts, beans, animals, food, and drinks exhibit shades of brown. The reason for this ubiquity is that the color brown is created by combining the primary colors red and green, along with black and white. Thus, it is easy for objects to reflect waves of light that produce a brown hue. Let’s explore some of the most common things that are brown in color.
Types of Food
Many foods and drinks have a natural brown color. This includes:
– Coffee – Coffee beans start off green but turn brown when roasted. The drink itself is a warm brown liquid. Espresso is a particularly dark shade of brown.
– Chocolate – The cacao bean which chocolate is made from is brown in color. Milk chocolate tends to be lighter while dark chocolate is richer and darker brown.
– Whole wheat bread – Whole wheat flour contains the tan brown bran portion of the wheat kernel, giving it a light brown hue. This is healthier than white bread which has the bran removed.
– Pasta – Whole wheat or multigrain pasta is light brown from containing parts of the wheat kernel. Traditional white pasta is made just with the endosperm.
– Brown rice – Like whole wheat, brown rice contains the bran and germ layer giving it a light brown color. This makes it more nutritious than white rice.
– Nuts – Most tree nuts have an outer brown shell or skin covering the edible interior nut. This includes almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, chestnuts and more.
– Beans – Dried beans are almost all some shade of brown, from black beans to pinto beans to kidney beans. Canned beans tend to be a bit lighter after cooking.
– Potatoes – The skin of potatoes is light to medium brown. The inside flesh is white or yellow. Sweet potatoes are darker orange-brown.
– Beef – When cooked, beef tends to turn brown or light brown on the outside from a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction. The inside remains reddish pink.
– Tea – Black tea in particular is a very dark brown color. Herbal teas can range from light to reddish-brown hues.
– Beer – Ales and lagers are various shades of brown from yellow-brown to deep mahogany. Stouts and porters are very dark brown from roasted grains.
– Soy sauce – This savory sauce is dark brown from fermented soy beans and wheat. Other brown sauces are gravy, barbecue sauce, teriyaki and Worcestershire sauce.
So in summary, many common foods containing grains, nuts, beans, seeds, meat, spices or oxidized compounds take on shades of light to dark brown.
Types of Drinks
In addition to foods, many popular drinks are brown due to their ingredients, oxidation or fermentation. For example:
– Cola – Cola drinks contain caramel coloring, giving them their familiar rich brown color.
– Coffee – As mentioned, coffee is prepared as a brown liquid drink. It can range from light brown to black.
– Tea – Black, Oolong, Pu-erh and herbal teas are various shades of brown. Green and white teas maintain a green or pale appearance.
– Beer – Ales, lagers, stouts and porters range from golden brown to very dark brown.
– Whiskey – The aging of whiskey in wooden barrels gives it a light to deep brown color depending on the type and age. Bourbon is an especially brown liquor.
– Soft drinks – Root beer, cream soda and birch beer are brown colored sodas. They get their hue from plant extracts, vanilla and added caramel color.
– Wine – Red wine is made from red or black grapes and achieves its reddish-brown color from the grape skins. As it ages, wine darkens from brick red to brown. White wine retains a pale golden color.
So drinks that contain caramel, oxidize through fermentation, or extract color from fruits, grains, nuts or wood often develop rich brown tones. Brown is a natural, familiar and appealing color for many beverages.
Types of Animals
There are a number of animals that exhibit brown coloring either across most of their bodies or in parts. For example:
– Bears – Brown bears have thick fur coats in shades of brown from tan to almost black. Their color helps them blend into wooded environments.
– Deer – The coats of deer species like elk, moose, reindeer and mule deer are variations of medium to dark brown. White tailed deer are reddish-brown in summer.
– Cattle – Cattle coats range from light brown to black. Popular cattle breeds like Angus are solid black while Holsteins are spotted black and white.
– Horses – Common horse coat colors include chestnut and bay which have brown bodies and black manes, tails and legs. Some horses have brown spots.
– Dogs – Many dog breeds have brown fur including Retrievers, Collies, Labs, Bulldogs, Dachshunds and Pugs. Brown dogs may be solid or multi-colored.
– Rodents – Squirrels, mice, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs and many other rodents have brown fur. The shade varies per species from reddish to grayish brown.
– Birds – Birds with significant brown plumage include sparrows, hawks, owls, thrushes, quails and grouse. The brown helps camouflage them.
– Insects – Beetles, cockroaches, crickets, termites, lice, flies and stink bugs are often brown. Again, this provides natural camouflage.
– Primates – Many primate species have brown fur including howler monkeys, uakaris, capuchins and macaques. Chimpanzees have brown skin underneath their black fur.
So brown is a common color in the animal kingdom, helping provide camouflage and blend in with tree trunks and dirt. Mammals, birds, insects and other creatures benefit from being brown.
Types of Nature
Beyond animals, many natural objects and materials found in nature exhibit shades of brown:
– Soil – Topsoil where plants grow is usually composed of brown components such as silt, clay, sand, decayed organic matter and minerals.
– Rocks – Sedimentary rocks like sandstone, limestone and shale are composed of brown minerals and matter. Igneous rocks can weather brown over time.
– Wood – The trunks, branches and bark of trees like oak, pine, maple and cedar are various hues of brown from their lignin and cellulose fibers.
– Dirt – Soil, silt, dust and decomposed leaves on the ground form brown dirt in forests, fields and trails.
– Seashells – The calcium carbonate shells of clams, snails, oysters and other mollusks fade to tan or brownish colors after death.
– Feathers – Many bird species have feathers in shades of brown camouflage patterns on their wings, chests and heads.
– Fur – Animal fur shed from deerskin, cattle hide and shearling retains its brown color even after tanning.
– Leaves – In autumn, deciduous tree leaves change from green to orange, yellow, red and brown shades before falling off branches.
– Seeds – The outside hulls of seeds and nuts like acorns and chestnuts are thick and brown, protecting the inner seeds.
So brown is truly ubiquitous throughout the natural landscape, from the soil beneath our feet to the trunks reaching into the sky. Next time you go for a hike, take note of just how many shades of brown exist outdoors.
Types of Household Items
There are many common household products, furniture and textiles that incorporate brown for its warm, natural and neutral qualities:
– Furniture – Wood tables, chairs, cabinets, beds and shelving are often finished with brown wood stains or made from naturally brown woods like mahogany and walnut.
– Countertops – Granite, marble, sandstone and soapstone are popular brown/tan countertop materials that complement wood cabinetry.
– Paint – Earth tones like brown, beige and taupe are popular interior wall paint colors for their neutrality. Brown evokes nature.
– Books – The cardboard and paper of book covers, pages and bindings is light brown, fading to tan with age and exposure. Old books take on a brownish patina.
– Paper bags – Grocery bags, lunch sacks and shopping bags are traditionally made of unbleached light brown kraft paper.
– Boxes – Corrugated cardboard boxes are brown from the kraft paper and glue used to make them. Moving and shipping boxes are typically brown.
– Leather – From boots to belts to jackets, tanned leather is sought after for its luxurious brown color. Bridle leather is a medium brown.
– Upholstery – Sofas and chairs are often covered in brown leather or earthy-colored fabrics and microfibers.
– Blankets – Fleece and wool blankets, along with canvas and burlap, utilize brown for its warmth and natural vibe.
So brown carries the feeling of comfort, durability, and organic qualities that work well for home goods and textiles.
Conclusion
Brown is one of the most ubiquitous colors we encounter daily. Foods, drinks, animals, nature scenes and products around the home all exhibit the neutral and inviting shades of brown, from light tan to deep mahogany. The color stems naturally from grains, plants, wood, soil and organic compounds that create various brown pigments. When used in manufacturing, brown evokes a sense of earthiness, durability and comfort. So the next time you take a sip of coffee, pet your brown dog, or sit in your leather armchair, appreciate the warm, familiar qualities of the color brown.