HMCP

Cashew Facts

Cashews, the edible nuts, which are widely preferred for their distinct nutty flavor, are consumed world over as snack food or used as ingredients in confectioneries, savories and other food substances. These nuts, largely grown in India, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and almost most of the African countries, of which Cote d'ivoire (IVC) being the world top producer of raw nuts. Cashews are widely consumed in North America and in the European Union and in countries like India and China. The cashew kernels before reaching the consumer's hands undergo a number of processes, whereby they are brought into the consumable form.
The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple. The tree can grow as high as 14 m (46 ft), but the dwarf cashew, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), has proven more profitable, with earlier maturity and greater yields. The cashew seed is often considered a nut in the culinary sense; this cashew nut is eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. Like the tree, the nut is often simply called a cashew.

The species is native to Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and northern South America, including northeastern Brazil. Portuguese colonists in Brazil began exporting cashew nuts as early as the 1550s. In 2017, Vietnam, India, and the Ivory Coast were the major producers.
The fruit of the cashew tree is an accessory fruit Called the cashew apple, better known in Central America as marañón, it ripens into a yellow or red structure about 5–11 cm (2.0–4.3 in) long. It is edible and has a strong "sweet" smell and taste. The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney– or boxing-glove–shaped drupe that grows at the end of the cashew apple.
The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and, starting in World War II, arms production. The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or distilled into liquor.

Fun Facts

- English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree: caju (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaˈʒu]), also known as acaju, which itself is from the Tupian word acajú, literally meaning "nut that produces itself".
- The cashew tree is native to northeastern Brazil, but the Portuguese brought it to Goa, between 1560 and 1565. From there, it spread throughout Southeast Asia, and eventually Africa.
- There are 553 Calories in 100 g (3.5 ounces) of raw cashews.
- Cashews are about 21% protein, 46% fat, and 25% carbohydrates.

- Cashews are very nutritious and are packed with protein and essential minerals including copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. Sodium is also present in very small quantities. Cashews also contain vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and vitamin K (phylloquinone). Cashews also contain a high content of oleic acid (an omega-9 fatty acid that is also found in olive oil).
- Some of the health benefits of cashews include a healthy heart, strong nerve and muscle function, aid in the formation of red blood cells, and an improved bone and oral health.
- They also good for your eyes and help regulate blood sugar control, increase HDL cholesterol, and increase fat oxidation. With its high antioxidant content, cashew nuts also help in boosting the immune system and preventing the formation of cancer cells.
- Cashews are eaten mainly as a premium-quality snack food. They have a rich, buttery taste.
- The so-called “raw cashews” available in health food shops have been cooked but not roasted or browned.
- Cashew oil is dark yellow oil for cooking or salad dressing pressed from cashew nuts (typically broken chunks created during processing).
- Cashews also can be processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter which is similar to peanut butter.
- The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and arms production, starting in World War II.
- The cashew apple can be eaten fresh, cooked in curries, or fermented into vinegar, as well as an alcoholic drink. It is also used to make preserves, chutneys, and jams in some countries such as India and Brazil.
- In traditional Maya medicine, the leaves or bark of cashew trees can be made into a tea to treat diarrhea.