[Avodah] 15 different fruits on Tu B'shvat

[Liron Kopinsky]

>From http://www.hillel.org/jewish/holidays/tubshevat/default

"...you will need to purchase both red and white wine and 15 different types
of fruits and nuts; five from each of the following three categories:

1) fruits or nuts with an inedible outer shell and an edible inner core:
pineapple, coconut, orange, pomello, banana, walnut, pecan, grapefruit,
starfruit, pinenut, pomegranate, papaya, brazil nut, pistachio, or almond.
(Note: purchase the whole fruit or nut so you can remove the outer shell
during the seder).

2) fruits with edible outer flesh and pithy, inedible cores: olive, date,
cherry, loquat, peach, apricot, jujub, persimmon, avocado. plum, or
hackberry. (Note: purchase the whole fruit so you can remove the pit or core
during the seder).

3) fruits which are edible throughout. Here no protective shells, neither
internal nor external are needed. The symbolic fruits may be eaten entirely
and include: strawberry, grape, raisin, fig, raspberry, blueberry,
cranberry, carob, apple, pear, kiwi or quince."
Does anyone know a source for needing 15 fruits specifically? Is it simply
15 = TU?
I have heard this idea for a few years but never heard of a source for it.

Kol Tuv,
~Liron
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