Organic Cashew Nuts

Description

Organic Cashew Nuts

Botanical name: Anacardium occidentale (the cashew tree)

Cashew nuts are well-known kidney-shaped nuts that are light-coloured, delicate in flavour, and slightly spongy in texture. Cashew nuts belong to the same family as the mango and pistachio nut. They are actually seeds that adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple, which is the fruit of the cashew tree.

Cashew nuts in the shell are not available in stores since the interior of their shells contains a caustic resin known as cashew balm. This resin, which is toxic, must be removed before they are fit for consumption. Cashew balm is used in varnishes and insecticides.

The cashew tree is native to the coastal areas of north-eastern Brazil. In the sixteenth century, Portuguese explorers introduced cashew into Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nigeria. The cashew nuts is ranked second to almonds among the nine tree nuts of importance in world trade.

Health & Nutrition
• Cashew nuts have a lower fat content and a higher protein and carbohydrate content than most other nuts.
• They contain the essential fatty acid – oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated oil with known benefits in protecting against heart disease and cancer.
• Cashew nuts are lower in vitamin E and calcium than most nuts, however they are a good source of protein, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc.