Tag: Anacardium occidentale

In many tropical regions, young cashew leaves are considered a prized delicacy and a traditional herbal remedy. This article explores the important question: can cashew leaf be eaten raw, examining its safety, nutritional properties, and the correct ways to prepare it for consumption.

Over 4 million tonnes of cashew nuts were harvested globally in 2023, making it one of the world's most popular snacks. But beyond its common name, what is a cashew nut also known as? This versatile seed has a rich history with multiple names across different cultures and languages.

According to botanical definitions, the cashew, scientifically known as *Anacardium occidentale*, is not a true nut but is instead a seed that develops inside a drupe. Its intriguing growth process and complex structure often lead to confusion, as it is widely accepted as a culinary nut and grouped with others in stores. This article delves into the truth of which nut is a cashew and explores its unique place in the plant kingdom.

A little-known fact about cashews is that the popular nut dangles from a much larger, pear-shaped fruit called the cashew apple, which is entirely edible. While the nut is a global commodity, the highly perishable fruit is a tropical delicacy, prized for its sweet, tangy flavor and rich vitamin C content.

The cashew tree, a tropical evergreen native to Brazil, produces a truly unique and fascinating fruit that is composed of two distinct parts. Most consumers are familiar with the delicious kidney-shaped nut, but few are aware of the large, vibrant, and highly perishable structure known as the cashew apple from which the nut grows.

Botanically speaking, cashews are not true nuts but are classified as drupe seeds, a detail that surprises many people. A drupe is a fruit with a fleshy exterior and a single seed enclosed in a hard shell, similar to peaches or mangoes.