In a Nutshell, Cashew Nuts Are…?

Feel free to complete the sentence with whatever you think of them. But we think cashew nuts are some of the most fascinating food commodities. For starters, they are not actual nuts. While popularly referred to as nuts, cashew kernels are botanically recognized as seeds because they grow inside a hard shell attached to the drupe (cashew apple).

Most people refer to cashew kernels as nuts because they exhibit several physical and nutritional characteristics of regular nuts. For example, they come enclosed in a hard outer shell. They also have high fat and protein content.

Moreover, people typically use cashew seeds in similar ways to regular nuts. In some places, cashew seeds are preferred alternatives to regular nuts in many meal recipes.

These are a few of the many interesting facts and fiction about cashew nuts. This article explores some of the lesser-known information about this versatile commodity.

History 

Cashews are said to have originated from Brazil in South America. However, through centuries of trading and commodity exchange, they have spread worldwide and are now cultivated in four other continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. 

The Portuguese explorers are credited with spreading cashews outside of South America. In the second half of the 16th century, they took the fruit and its seeds from Brazil on their expeditions to Africa and Asia.

But long before the Portuguese explorers, the nomads who discovered cashews only consumed the drupes and discarded the seeds. Later on, the natives also learned of the juice’s medicinal uses, including the bark and caustic seed oil. But, they ignored the seed.  

Eventually, the natives discovered that the irritating shells of the cashew seed were housing nutritious kernels. The Tupi-Indian tribe observed the local Capuchin monkeys breaking the shells of the cashew kernels open with rocks to eat their contents. Soon after, people began roasting the cashews to cook the seed and remove the irritants.

The Portuguese introduced cashews to Goa in the 1500s. There, the locals discovered that the seed was more than just a delicious treat; it also had several medicinal benefits, which made it popular in the area.

Cashews were introduced to the United States in 1905 but didn’t gain popularity until the 1920s. Today, many countries and cultures have adopted cashew nuts as staple food ingredients in various nut-based menus. 

In addition, cashews are now being grown and harvested in huge quantities across several countries globally. According to Wikipedia, Vietnam, India, Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, and the United States are the top 10 Cashew Nuts exporters globally in 2021.  

Cashew Seed Uses and Applications

The soaring demand for cashews is not only due to their nutritional value, cashew seeds are versatile and are important ingredients used in many other industries. 

Food and Snack Ingredients

Cashew nuts are healthy food items that can be consumed raw, roasted, or salted. You can eat them alone or use them as ingredients in various recipes. In addition, cashew nuts can be processed into value-added products such as soft cheese for bread spreads or hard cheese used in Pizzas and sandwiches. Other derivatives of cashew seeds include cashew milk, yoghurt, cream, and powder for baking.

You can also obtain cashew nuts oil by pressing the cashew nuts, much like groundnut oil. The oil is also used in cooking and for salad dressing.

Cashew nuts have immense nutritional benefits. They’re an excellent source of healthy fats, vitamins, fibre, and protein. They also contain good amounts of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and copper. All of these nutrients contribute to the development of a healthy immune system. Cashew nuts may also help promote weight loss by serving as healthier alternatives to regular junk foods. 

Read more about the Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts Here

Cashew Seeds in Medicine

Cashew nuts are packed with numerous medicinal benefits. Certain chemicals in cashews counteract bacterial activities. In addition, the healthy fats in cashews help to reduce the rate of cholesterol buildup in the blood, thereby improving heart health.

Cashew nuts are also used in medications and syrups to treat diabetes, skin problems, and stomach and intestinal disorders. Moreover, certain practices apply cashews directly to the skin as stimulants for healing warts. 

Cashew Nuts Shells As Fuels

Cashew seeds are usually 70% shell and 30% edible kernels. Fortunately, the shells aren’t useless. They’re tough materials made up of 11% water, 3% ash, and about 30% Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) or Cashew Shell Oil.

The CSNL is a natural resin with a yellowish hue, but it should not be confused with Cashew Nut Oil as it is a strong irritant containing several acidic compounds. These compounds make it an excellent material for biomass fuel used in generating clean energy. 

In addition, the CNSL also has properties similar to Lacquer, making it useful for surface coating, wood coating, varnishes, and paints. The resin inside the cashew seed shell is also used in insecticides and plastics. 

Cashew-based Skincare Products

Cashew nuts have antioxidant properties that help to hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation. That’s why it’s a common ingredient in many types of creams, including moisturizers, toners, sunscreens, and cleansers. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is also very effective for combating skin acne.

Risk Factors

Despite its numerous nutritional and medicinal benefits, Cashew seeds also pose a few risks to consumers. 

  • Cashew Nuts may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
  • Overeating cashew nuts may also result in indigestion and constipation.
  • Cashew nut shells contain Urushiol, a dangerous chemical found with acidic properties. Exposure to this chemical can result in itching, burning, blisters, and more physical harm.

Cashew Nuts Grades

Cashew nuts are categorized into different grades based on their sizes and oil content. Currently, there are 33 different cashew kernel grades, but only 26 grades are obtainable on the market. The different categories are distinguished with numbers and an alphabet for classification, for example, W-180, W-210, W-320, and W-150 all represent different types of cashew nuts.

In a nutshell, 

Cashew nuts are not nuts, but they’re super seeds with numerous nutritional, medicinal, and industrial applications. They’re extremely valuable commodities and significant contributors to export earnings in several countries. They also provide a respectable source of income for cashew farmers all over the world.