Cashew Trees are a tropical evergreen tree native to South America. The scientific name of cashew is Anacardium occidentale. The word cashew is derived from the Tupi word “acajou” which means “nut that produces itself”. The Cashew Nut is a single-seeded nut with a hard grey shell that grows at the bottom of the cashew apple (a soft and juicy fruit).
Cashew nuts are packed with nutrients that support our health in a number of ways. They are a rich source of protein, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and vitamin K. They are also a great source of heart-healthy fats and plant-based protein.
Some properties of cashew nuts include:
- Antioxidant properties
- Anti-inflammatory in nature
- Analgesic
- Antidiabetic activity
- Anti-cancer activity
- Cardio-protective
- Anti-microbial
Cashew nuts are widely produced in India, Vietnam, and Africa. The average amount of cashew nuts that can be consumed to get some great benefits is 15-18 cashew nuts a day.
Cashew nut varieties
There are 33 varieties of cashew nuts identified, out of which only 26 varieties are marketed. The W-180 variety is known as the “king of cashews”. Three varieties of cashews available commonly in the Kerala market are W320, W240, and W210.
W320 cashew nuts are white whole cashews that contain 320 kernels per pound. The “W” stands for “White Whole” and the number “320” refers to the number of kernels in a pound. W320 cashews are the most popular grade of cashew kernel and are widely available. They are mid-sized nuts and are considered the best grade because larger cashews are needed to make up a pound.
Cashew flower
Young Cashew Fruit
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