Cashews have conquered our kitchen and palate. It used to be an unknown dried fruit, but it is increasingly being introduced into our stores, thanks to its sweet flavor and similarity to other nuts. Its growth and harvesting has nothing to do with other fruits and that is what makes it interesting. What is your tree? Where is it planted? When is it collected?
Even if you have usually eaten it, you probably want to know its origin. It is a fruit that can be eaten raw, given its soft, sweet and buttery flavor. For this reason, it has been introduced into the kitchen thanks to its versatility, making it one of the most consumed. Where can we find this fruit?
What are cashews?
Cashews or Western Anacardium, has other well-known names, such as Indian nut, cashew, merey, cashew, cashew, seed or case. It grows in warm, humid areas of the tropics and on tall, robust trees. Its peculiarity is that They grow wrapped in a fleshy fruit which is also used, given its flavor and juiciness.
It is presented as a dry fruit and is an oilseed which is found, as we have mentioned, at the lower end of a fleshy pseudofruit, curious, right? Its appearance is similar to that of a walnut, although it is part of the mango and pistachio family. The real nut is found in the cashew, while the fleshy and juicy part is found in the outer area, called cashew apple
What is the cashew tree?
The cashew tree is scientifically called Western Anacardium, or the "cashew". It is native to Brazil and comes from a warm tropical climate and is part of a great tradition and way of life of the people around it.
This tree is robust, with an irregular trunk that reaches between the 10 to 30 cm in diameter And height that can measure up to 15 meters. Medicinal properties are also used from the tree to cure throat infections, diarrhea, dysenteries, problems with wounds and to tan skins. The wood is also used for tools.
It should be noted that the tree lasts up to 60 years, producing fruit 3 years after production. Most of these trees They produce nuts only during the 15 to 20 years of their life.
Flowers and leaves
The fruit begins with a pretty flower, male or female, green to yellowish in color, with a pleasant smell and a size between 10 to 20 cm long. It is composed of a calyx with 5 sepals, with a corolla of 5 petals up to 8 mm long, greenish in color with a reddish stripe. The leaves are simple, obovate, with a size that is between 6 to 25 cm long and 3 to 10 cm wide.
Source: Wikipedia
The fruit
The fruit of the cashew tree consists of two parts: the seed or nut, called cashew, and the pseudofruit called cashew apple. This fruit develops its fleshy part after the seed has been formalized, where it will later mature.
The fruit is also harvested when it reaches its optimal harvest point, turning a magenta to reddish color when ripe. Its pulp is orange-yellow in color and has a sweet to sour flavor. It is used for multiple uses, such as jams, jellies, wines, vinegars, jellies... although its main attraction is the nut, the cashew, given its high demand in sales and consumption.
Types of cashews
There are two types of cashew nuts, the common cashew and the red cashew. They are different, since they can be grown in different climates, for their own consumption or export.
- The common cashew comes from tropical areas, with high temperatures throughout the year and generous rainfall. Its seed is whitish when fresh, but turns brown when roasted. It has a curved shape, which is what we commonly know.
- The red cashew It requires an area of great humidity and rain. It does not tolerate tropical climates and can be grown in areas with lower temperatures than the common cashew. It is characterized by being much redder and its shape is less curved.
Source: Wikipedia
When is cashew planted and harvested?
The cashew tree reproduces by seeds or by the so-called air layering. It is called transplant planting and is the most effective and recommended method, given that the plant grows much stronger and more vigorous.
Another way would be by direct sowing, selecting the most vigorous and healthy seeds. Make a 5 cm hole and cover it. Then it will sprout after approximately 15 days.
As we have already mentioned, these fruits grow in humid tropical areas. Temperatures range between 20° and 30° throughout the year and rainfall ranges between 600 and 2000 mm annually.
The beginning of its harvest takes place at the beginning of the tropical winter season in the area, generally a year after the fruit has set. They are usually collected from the tree or from fruits that have fallen to the ground.
Areas where cashews are grown
The areas where they are grown are mostly in the Vietnam area where it is collected to be exported without shell, given that only 5% is consumed in the area.
Other countries follow, such as Brazil, where it is particularly collected and left within the continent. Others, like the India, Ivory Coast, Philippines, Benin, Tanzania, Mali or Indonesia, are other exporters.
Do you want to know a curiosity about cashews?
Cashews are a great food, as are all nuts. They are a great source of iron, zinc, phosphorus and selenium. However, they need to be treated after being collected, since if they are consumed raw they are toxic. They contain the urushiol toxin, which is not edible, and for this, they must be steamed, fried or toasted in boiling oil to eliminate it. Afterwards, they are peeled and dried for consumption. It is good to consume a handful from time to time, since they have great caloric power.