Is A Cashew A Nut Or A Berry? The Surprising Botanical Truth

January 5, 2026 •

3 min read

Over 90% of the world's cashews are consumed in the United States, yet most people are unaware of their unique botanical origin. While widely considered a nut in the culinary world, the cashew is not a true botanical nut, and it is certainly not a berry.

Quick Summary

Cashews are botanically classified as drupe seeds, not true nuts or berries. The edible cashew is the seed of a fruit that grows externally from a fleshy false fruit called a cashew apple.

Key Points

Botanically a drupe seed: A cashew is the edible seed of a drupe, which is a fruit with a fleshy exterior and a central hard pit or shell.
Not a true nut: A true nut is a dry, hard-shelled fruit that does not open to release the seed; a cashew's edible part is a seed within a drupe.
Not a berry: A berry contains multiple seeds within its fleshy pulp, whereas a cashew is a single seed from a different fruit structure.
Grows with a 'false fruit': The kidney-shaped cashew grows beneath a larger, pear-shaped accessory fruit called the cashew apple, which is also edible but highly perishable.
Dangerous in the shell: Raw cashew shells contain a toxic resin similar to poison ivy, which is why they are never sold unprocessed and in the shell.

The Cashew's Identity Crisis: A Tale of Two Classifications

For many, the cashew is a familiar snack, roasted and salted, often found in a tin labeled 'mixed nuts'. However, the journey of this buttery, kidney-shaped delight from tree to table is far more complex than a simple nut harvest. Its classification reveals a fascinating difference between how we use food in the kitchen and how it is defined in the world of botany.

The Botanical Reality: A Drupe Seed

Botanically, a cashew is the seed of a drupe. A drupe is a fruit with a fleshy outer layer and a hard inner shell enclosing a seed. The cashew drupe is unique as it grows outside a large, false fruit called the cashew apple. The edible seed within this drupe is what we recognize as a cashew.

Why a Cashew Isn't a True Nut

A true botanical nut is a dry, hard-shelled fruit with one seed that doesn't open when mature. Cashews, as seeds within a drupe, don't fit this definition. Many other culinary "nuts," such as almonds and pecans, are also technically drupe seeds.

Why a Cashew Isn't a Berry

Botanically, a berry originates from a single flower and contains many seeds within its fleshy pulp. The cashew, being a single seed within a drupe that grows externally from the cashew apple, does not meet the criteria of a berry.

Cashew: A Tale of Two Fruits

The cashew plant produces two distinct parts:

The Cashew Apple: This is a large, false fruit developing from the flower stem. It is edible and used in some regions for juices or jams, but it spoils quickly.
The Cashew Drupe: The small, kidney-shaped part below the cashew apple is the true fruit, a drupe, containing the single edible seed (the cashew).

The Journey from Drupe to Delicious Snack

Processing cashews involves removing the seed from the drupe's shell, which contains toxic resin (cardol and anacardic acid). This resin is related to poison ivy irritants and is why unprocessed cashews are not sold in their shells. Roasting or steaming is necessary to eliminate these toxic oils.

Comparing the Classifications: A Culinary vs. Botanical Table

The full table comparing botanical classifications of nuts, drupes, and berries can be found on {Link: Forager Project website https://foragerproject.com/blogs/blog/all-about-cashews-cracking-the-nut}.

Culinary Convenience vs. Scientific Accuracy

Cashews are called nuts culinarily due to shared nutritional traits, like healthy fats and protein, and similar uses in cooking. However, for those with allergies, cashews are treated as tree nuts and can trigger reactions.

The Takeaway

Botanically, a cashew is a seed from a drupe attached to a false fruit, the cashew apple. Its common classification as a culinary 'nut' highlights the difference between botanical definitions and everyday usage. For additional information, consider exploring articles from {Link: Healthline https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-cashews-nuts}.

Conclusion

In summary, a cashew is botanically a seed from a drupe, not a true nut or berry. Its culinary label as a 'nut' is based on its nutritional profile and common uses, distinct from its scientific classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cashews are called nuts in a culinary context because they share similar physical, nutritional, and culinary properties with true nuts, such as being rich in fat and protein.

The cashew apple is the fleshy, pear-shaped structure that grows on the cashew tree, above the edible cashew seed. It is an accessory or 'false fruit' and is edible but has a very limited shelf life.

Yes, many foods commonly called nuts are also botanically classified as drupe seeds, including almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.

Raw cashew shells contain a toxic, caustic oil called urushiol, which can cause severe skin irritation. The cashews are roasted or steamed to remove this toxin before being packaged and sold.

Cashews are rich in healthy fats, protein, and various vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamin K, which support heart, bone, and brain health.

A botanical nut is a specific type of dry fruit with a hard shell, while a culinary nut is a broader term used for any large, oily, edible seed or kernel in a shell.

Native to northeastern Brazil, cashew trees are now cultivated in many tropical regions around the world, with major producers including Vietnam, India, and African countries.