What are the by products of cashews?

December 19, 2025 •

2 min read

In many regions, over 90% of the edible cashew apple fruit is often discarded, creating a significant waste challenge. What are the by products of cashews that can be repurposed?

Quick Summary

Beyond the nut, the cashew tree provides valuable byproducts like the cashew apple, industrial nutshell liquid, and reusable shells and pulp.

Key Points

Cashew Apple: The fruit provides juice, jams, and Feni.
CNSL: The liquid from the nut shell is used in resins, brake linings, and coatings.
Cashew Shells: Shells are used as biofuel and fertilizer.
Cashew Pulp/Bagasse: Apple residue is used as animal feed and for bioethanol.
Cashew Gum: An exudate from the tree is a stabilizer and thickener.
Zero-Waste Potential: The tree supports a circular economy by finding uses for all parts.

The Cashew Apple: A Versatile Pseudofruit

While the cashew nut is the primary export, the cashew apple is a valuable accessory fruit. Due to its short shelf life, it's mainly consumed and processed locally in regions like Brazil, India, and Mozambique. It's rich in vitamin C and antioxidants with various uses.

Culinary Applications of the Cashew Apple

Local communities use the cashew apple in many ways. Its juice is popular and can be fermented into alcoholic beverages like Feni. It's also made into jams, jellies, chutneys, or dried snacks.

Biofuel and Animal Feed from Cashew Apple Pulp

The pulp remaining after juice extraction can be processed into bioethanol. The fiber and protein-rich pulp can also be dried and used as livestock feed.

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL): An Industrial Powerhouse

CNSL is a viscous liquid found within the cashew nut shell. This phenolic compound is an important industrial raw material.

Industrial Applications of CNSL

CNSL processing yields chemicals for manufacturing various items. These include materials for vehicle friction linings, resins and coatings, and industrial lubricants.

Cashew Shell Biomass

After CNSL extraction, the remaining shells are used as biomass with high energy content. They can be burned for heat and energy, or processed into charcoal or electricity. Crushed shells can also be used as a fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Comparison of Cashew Byproducts


Byproduct	Source	Primary Use	Secondary Use	Environmental Benefit
Cashew Apple	Fleshy pseudofruit	Juices, jams, alcohol (Feni)	Bioethanol production, animal feed	Reduces food waste, creates biofuel
CNSL	Nut shell liquid	Industrial resins, friction materials	Lubricants, waterproofing agents	Replaces synthetic petroleum-based materials
Cashew Shells	Hard shell after CNSL extraction	Biomass fuel, charcoal	Organic fertilizer	Provides renewable energy, improves soil health
Cashew Gum	Tree exudate	Thickener in food, pharmaceuticals	Stabilizer, emulsifier	Sustainable alternative to commercial gums
Cashew Pulp	Apple residue after juice extraction	Animal feed supplement	Biofuel (bioethanol)	Valorizes agricultural waste

The Future of Zero-Waste Cashew Processing

Research is ongoing to find new uses for cashew byproducts, promoting a circular economy in the industry. This includes creating polymers from CNSL and new foods from cashew apple residue. Utilizing all parts of the cashew tree creates new income and reduces waste.

Conclusion

The cashew tree offers many byproducts in addition to the nut. The cashew apple is used for drinks and preserves, CNSL is used for industrial products like resins, and shells and pulp become biofuels and animal feed. This full utilization helps create a more sustainable and economically sound cashew industry by reducing waste. The cashew tree is an example of sustainable agriculture.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the cashew apple is edible. While it can be eaten fresh, it's often processed into juices or jams, especially in growing regions.

CNSL is Cashew Nut Shell Liquid, a liquid from the nut's shell. It's an industrial material used in resins, brake linings, waterproofing agents, and varnishes.

The cashew shell contains CNSL, which irritates the skin. Raw cashews are heated to neutralize this, which is why they are not sold in shells.

Using cashew byproducts creates new income for producers and supports a more sustainable industry model.

Cashew shells can be burned as biomass fuel for heat and energy or turned into charcoal.

Juice can be made into jams, syrups, and fermented into liquors like Feni.

Yes, parts like discarded nuts, apple pulp (bagasse), and the nut's skin (testa) are used as livestock feed.