Cashew Nuts

English Name: Cashew Nuts

Common Indian Name (Hindi): Kaju

• The Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) belongs to family Anacardiacea.
• The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney shaped drupe that grows at the end of the pseudofruit, which is a modified peduncle. Within the true fruit is a single seed, the cashew nut.
• The seed is surrounded by a double shell, which contains a dermatogenic phenolic resin, anacardic acid, which irritates skin when touched.
• The cashew nut is a popular snack, and often eaten on its own, lightly salted or sugared. Cashew nuts are used in Thai cuisine and Chinese cuisine. In Indian cuisine it is often ground into sauces such as shahi korma. It is also used to garnish Indian sweets and desserts.
• Cashew nuts are said to be effective for improving vitality and are believed to be good for promoting healthy teeth and gums. They are enriched in calcium, believed to help in promoting strong and healthy bones. They have magnesium, which is known to promote the absorption of calcium.
• Cashew nuts also contain iron, magnesium, zinc and folic acid, reported to be vital for pregnant women.