What is cashew?

What is a Cashew?

The cashew tree, “Anacardium occidentale L” , is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple pseudofruit .The Cashew is native of northwestern Brazil.It was first introduced to India in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers sailing from Brazil and here it become abundant due to low altitudes near the seacoast. They first planted it in Goa to prevent coastal erosion. Cashew nut trees are used to mitigate Soil erosion because of their extensive root system, which keeps the soil beneath them firmly in place. The trees expansive branch system which extends horizontally also serves as a natural umbrella, shielding the soil from rain.

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Cashew Tree

CASHEW FRUIT WITH NUT BENEATH

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 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 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.
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.
It wasn’t until some 400 years after the Portuguese first planted cashew trees on Indian coasts that the nuts’ commercial value was realised. Today, cashew nuts have grown to become one of the most valuable processed nuts in global commodity markets, with a market value of 6.27 billion US dollars. India plays a big part in this exchange as the world’s second largest supplier after Vietnam, supplying cashews to over 60 countries world-wide. In fact, cashew nuts are in the country’s top four agricultural products, alongside basmati rice, spices and tea, generating nearly 1 billion USD in foreign exchange.The cashew nut industry also has significant social value, providing vital employment to millions of people, especially women. A combination of cashew nut farming, processing and exporting can create employment for local farmers and communities all year round.