The Cashew is a slow-spreading, evergreen, tropical tree which grows pretty big if left un-tended. A South American native, the cashew reached the Indian soil through the hands of Portuguese, four centuries ago. It found this soil more suitable to grow and flourish. Today it is cultivated all over Tropical Asia, Africa and South America. India is the largest producer and processor of cashews. Indian processed cashews dominate more than half the world cashew market. Procure it from its master exporters in India. Trace out its journey to your table top. Try out more recipes. Place your orders. And learn more from this site .

What is the wonder about it? Normally we see seed inside a fruit, but in a cashew fruit, its seed is an outside entity attached to it. Four centuries ago, when the Portuguese landed on the Indian soil, they brought with them the priceless tree nut - "Cashew". Cashew came, conquered and took deep roots in the entire coastal region of India. Cashew found the Indian soil more congenial for its growth than its homeland. It later gained popularity as a cash crop in many parts of India as well. Today, India is the largest producer and processor of cashews, and exploring new areas for Cultivation

The nuttiest feature of cashew nut is that it is attached to the lower portion of the cashew apple which looks like its fruit; but in reality, it is the enlarged stem of the cashew tree. The cashew nut can be seen under the soft belly of the cashew apple. Together, it is one of the very fascinating sights of nature.

The cashew nut has within itself a whole kernel. This delicate kernel is covered by a membrane and a thick outer shell which effectively protects the kernel from the ravages of nature from the time of harvesting to processing. In its raw form, the cashew kernel is soft, white and meaty. When roasted, it changes color and taste. The color changes from a creamy white into a golden hue and the mellow pulp turns crisp. Salted, it appeals to the palate as the most delicious nut.

The Cashew tree, Anacardium occidentale, generally considered the native to the northern part of South America, is now found in many tropical areas.

The English name cashew™ is derived from the Portuguese name of similar pronunciation, caju™, which in turn comes from the Tupi-Indian word acaju™. In Venezuela cashew is called merey™, but in all other Spanish speaking countries of Latin America it is called ˜maranon™, which may be derived from one of the first regions where the fruit was seen, viz the State of Maranhao in northern Brazil. Cashew originally belongs to Brazil, found well at home in Indian peninsular soils, and got exploited to the maximum benefit towards improving the rural economy and as a premier crop of Indian commerce.

The tree establishes itself easily and by men and animals may have increased its growing area even in pre-historic times. It is likely that Spanish sailors have taken the nut to Central American countries and certain that the Portuguese brought the cashew to their territories in the East Indies and Africa.

It may be assumed that cashew came to Goa, Portugal™ main settlement in the East Indies at a time, between 1560 and 1565. It is believed that the Portuguese brought the cashew to India, between 1563 & 1578

.Small Quantities of Cashew Kernels were imported into the USA as early as 1905. World trade started after representatives of the General Food Corporation discovered these nuts during their mission to India in the early 1920™s. Besides regular shipments to the USA, small consignments were also sent to several European countries, particularly to the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. By 1941, the Indian export of cashew kernels had increased to nearly 20,000 tons.

Today cashews are an important item in World Trade. The total sale value, after value addition, amounts to a sum exceeding US$ 2 Billion.

Cashews are imported in Raw form ( also called raw , plain) and then Marketed in various terms in respective countries as it is, but mostly roasted and salted.

Worldwide it is considered as a snack item. Its importance as a food is gaining importance.

Raw material:
Raw Cashewnut (Anacardium Occidentale) is the only raw material for the Cashew Industry.For more details, click on the link 'More About Raw Cashewnuts'.

After India it was introduced into South-Eastern Asia and, according to Agnoloni and Giuliani (1977), it arrived in Africa during the second half of the XVI century, first on the east coast and then on the west and lastly in the Islands. The cashew later spread to Australia and some parts of the North-American Continent. Finally, its present diffusion can be geographically located between 31ºNorth latitude and 31ºSouth latitude, both as the wild species and under cultivation.

Some make from the apples a beverage, though the fruit itself is scarcely edible, having an unripe flavour. At the base of the fruit hangs a sort of nut, with the shape of a kidney. As to the kernel therein, it is excellent to eat.

( Source: "Cashew" by: J.G. Ohler, "The World Cashew Economy" by:L™inchiostroblu )

Tree nuts or Noble nuts have been used as premium foods by the Aristocracy for Centuries. In the 1970s and 80s, however, they were seen as "Fatty" and something to be avoided. However, research findings since the late 1990s have affirmed that nuts which pack nutrients and vitamins are not only healthy, but also have a "Good" unsaturated fat profile.

Regular consumption of nuts significantly reduces the risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Tasty nuts are finding their way back on to tables all over the world as a healthy alternative to junk-foods, and even as a part of weight-loss diets.

Cashews particularly are a natural source of folate, phytosterols, magnesium, potassium, selenium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese & pantothenic acid (Vitamin B-5), amino acids such as lysine, tryptophan, threonine, leneine, isolencine and valine.

Cashews, like all treenuts, contain many complex proteins which cause allergies in some people - though very few cases specific to cashews have been documented. Quite often people who are allergic to one type of nuts are also allergic to others.

So, if you are allergic to any other nuts, please be careful about consuming cashews