Vivekam Exports

The cashew trees appear more like bushes than trees because of their small stature. They are evergreen trees, with an average height of not above 30 feet. The limbs of the tree spread fast and strike the ground to re-root themselves. The trunk of the tree is often short and irregular in shape, giving it an extremely disheveled look. The cashew trees grow abundantly in the tropics and are extensively found near the equator, as they flourish in extreme heat.

The Cashew Apple

The cashew apple is a pear shaped fruit that appears to be the actual fruit of the tree, but it is in fact the pseudo or the false fruit that develops from the cashew flower. It ripens into a yellow and/or red colour and is about 5-11 cms in length. This fruit can be consumed and has a strong sweet smell and is sweet to taste. Though the pulp of the cashew apple is extremely juicy, its skin is extremely delicate and therefore it makes its transportation extremely difficult. While the cashew nut is so popular, the cashew apple is not equally relished, though, the people of Brazil and the Caribbean consider it to be a delicacy.

Cashew Nut

Cashew Nut is a nut, which is a popular snack due to its exquisite and distinctive sweetness and crispiness. The nut can be easily found in the markets throughout the year for consumption. These nuts are in the shape of a kidney and adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple, the fruit of the cashew tree, which is found in abundance in the coastal region of Brazil.

The fruit of the cashew is a seed. The seed is surrounded by a double shell comprising of a phenolic resin called urushiol, which is a skin irritant toxin. This caustic resin is also referred to as the cashew balm, which must be carefully removed. This resin is used in various industries to make varnishes and insecticides. Some of the other names for the cashew nut include caju, cajueiro, cashu, casho, acajuiba, paruppu, pomme cajou, pajuil, etc.

As far as the nutritional composition of the cashews goes, they are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, copper , magnesium and phosphorous. They are high in fat content, but the fats contained in them are good fats and are essential for the body. Cashew nuts are available in the market in a number of flavours. Roasted, salted, honey coated, sugar coated, plain, etc, are some of the flavours available in cashew nuts.

Cashew nuts are a delicacy and are savored on their own and are also a good option for garnishing. Roasted "cajus" are often sprinkled on salads, rice, etc. to make them more alluring to the taste buds. Its paste can be used to make some mouthwatering dips and bread spreads. cashew butter is relished world over for its creamy taste.