Description

Cashew is a kidney-shaped nut that grows on the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), which is native to Brazil but cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. The cashew fruit, technically a pseudofruit, consists of the edible, swollen stalk called the cashew apple and the kidney-shaped nut attached to it. The nut itself has a hard, double-layered shell containing a caustic oil that must be removed before consumption. The edible kernel inside is the part we commonly eat, and it has a soft consistency and sweet flavor. The Tree: The cashew tree is an evergreen, tropical tree with leathery, elliptical leaves. The "Fruit": The cashew "apple" is the swollen stalk of the flower, not a true fruit, and is edible with a yellow or red color. The Nut: The true fruit is the kidney-shaped nut with a hard, two-layered shell. The outer layer contains a caustic oil, and the inner layer contains the edible kernel. Uses: Cashew nuts are eaten raw, roasted, or used in various culinary dishes, and the cashew apple is also edible. The leaves have medicinal properties in some cultures. Processing: The nuts are processed to remove the caustic oil and the inner shell before consumption.