Cashew
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What is a cashew plant?
The cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is an evergreen shrub or tree in the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) that is cultivated for its curved, edible seeds. Though commonly called cashew "nuts," they are not true nuts.
The domesticated cashew is native to the New World but is commercially cultivated mainly in Brazil and India. The tree can grow to 12 meters (40 feet) in height where the soil is fertile and the humidity is high. The curved fruit, which is not a true nut, is shaped like a large thick bean and can reach more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. It appears as though one of its ends has been forcibly sunk into a pear-shaped swollen stem (hypocarp), called the cashew apple.
The wild cashew, or espavé (Anacardium excelsum), is a closely related tree that grows in Central and South America.
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Where does the cashew plant grow naturally?
The cashew, Anacardium occidentale, is native to northeastern Brazil. In the late 16th century, Portuguese missionaries introduced it to East Africa and India, where it flourished in low-altitude coastal areas. Today, the cashew is commercially cultivated mainly in Brazil and India. The wild cashew, or espavé (Anacardium excelsum), is a closely related tree that grows in Central and South America.
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What does a cashew plant look like?
The cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is an evergreen shrub or tree in the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). It can reach 12 meters (40 feet) in height in fertile soil and high humidity. Its leathery leaves are spirally arranged and elliptical in shape.
The cashew fruit is curved and shaped like a large, thick bean, up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. It grows on a pear-shaped stem called the cashew apple. The cashew apple is about three times larger than the fruit and is reddish or yellow. The fruit has two shells, with a resin between them that can cause blisters.
The wild cashew (Anacardium excelsum) is a closely related tree that grows in Central and South America.
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How does the cashew plant produce its nuts?
The cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale) is native to Brazil and cultivated for its curved, edible seeds. This evergreen tree can reach 12 meters (40 feet) in height and has leathery, elliptical leaves.
The cashew fruit consists of two parts: the cashew apple, which is an accessory fruit, and the true fruit, a curved shape resembling a thick bean. The cashew apple is attached to the end of the true fruit. The true fruit has a double-layered shell containing an edible seed. A caustic resin between these shells can cause allergic reactions.
After harvesting the cashew apples by hand, the curved fruits are detached and sun-dried. The outer shells are then burst open to release the caustic resin. The inner shells are broken to extract the kernels, which are then heated to remove the seed coat.
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Why are cashew nuts not sold in their shells?
Cashew nuts are not sold in their shells due to the presence of a caustic resin between the two shells of the fruit that can blister human skin.
The outer shell is smooth and thin, while the inner shell is harder and must be cracked to obtain the edible seed inside. A brown oily resin is produced between the two shells and can cause allergic reactions. In some areas, the dried fruits are roasted amid burning logs to burst the outer shells and release the caustic resin. In improved roasting methods, the poisonous properties are dispelled in roasting cylinders. Afterward, the inner shells are broken open by hand, and the kernels are heated to remove the seed coat.
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What other products are obtained from the cashew plant besides nuts?
Besides cashew nuts, the cashew plant offers a variety of other useful products. The tree's wood serves local economies for items like shipping crates and boats, and it can be processed into charcoal. A gum similar to gum arabic is also derived from the wood.
The resin from the cashew shells functions as an insecticide, is used in traditional medicines, and is important in the production of plastics. Cashew nutshell liquid is made into resins for varnishes, can kill mosquito larvae, and can be used to preserve wood against insect attacks.
The cashew apple is used to make beverages, jams, and jellies.
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Cashew, (Anacardium occidentale), evergreen shrub or tree of the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cultivated for its characteristically curved edible seeds, which are commonly called cashew “nuts” though they are not true nuts. The domesticated cashew tree is native to the New World but commercially cultivated mainly in Brazil and India. The seeds, rich in oil and distinctively flavoured, are commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisine and are a characteristic ingredient of numerous chicken and vegetarian dishes of southern India. In Western countries they are eaten mainly as a premium-quality protein-rich snack food.
The cashew is native to northeastern Brazil. Portuguese missionaries took it to East Africa and India during the late 16th century, where it became abundant at low altitudes near the seacoast. The tree produces wood that is useful in local economies for such practical items as shipping crates, boats, and charcoal as well as for a gum that is similar to gum arabic. The resin within the shells of the fruit is used as an insecticide and in the production of plastics; it also is important in traditional medicines. The cashew apple is used locally in beverages, jams, and jellies, though most cultivation is directed toward production of the valuable seed crop. Parts of the cashew must be handled with care by susceptible individuals because it is related to poison ivy and poison sumac and can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
The plant may grow to 12 metres (40 feet) in height where the soil is fertile and the humidity high. The leathery leaves are spirally arranged and elliptical in shape. The curved fruit, which is not a true nut, is shaped like a large thick bean and can reach more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. It appears as though one of its ends has been forcibly sunk into a pear-shaped swollen stem (hypocarp), called the cashew apple. The cashew apple, which is an accessory fruit (e.g., not a true fruit), is about three times as large as the true fruit and is reddish or yellow. The true fruit has two walls, or shells. The outer shell is smooth, thin, and somewhat elastic and is olive green until maturity, when it becomes pale brown. The inner shell is harder and must be cracked like the shells of nuts to obtain the edible seed inside. A brown oily resin is produced between the two shells and can blister human skin.
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The cashew apples are picked by hand, and the curved fruits are first detached and then sun-dried. In some localities the dried fruits are roasted amid burning logs, where the heat causes the outer shells to burst open and release the caustic resin. The resin quickly catches fire, giving off fumes that can be injurious to the eyes and skin. In improved methods of roasting, the poisonous properties are dispelled in roasting cylinders. Later the inner shells are broken open by hand and the kernels heated to remove the seed coat.
The wild cashew, or espavé (Anacardium excelsum), is a closely related tree that grows in Central and South America.