Cashew

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Cashew nuts
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Cashew
Ripe fruit and attached drupe, which contains the edible seed

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1
)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Anacardium
Species:
A. occidentale
Binomial name
Anacardium occidentale

Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree Anacardium occidentale, in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as 14 metres (46 feet), but the dwarf cultivars, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), prove more profitable, with earlier maturity and greater yields. The cashew nut is edible and is eaten on its own as a snack, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. The nut is often simply called a 'cashew'. Cashew can cause allergies triggered by the proteins found in the nuts.

In 2019, four million tonnes of cashew nuts were produced globally, with Ivory Coast and India the leading producers. As well as the nut and fruit, the plant has several other uses. The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and, starting in World War II, arms production.[1][full citation needed] The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp and juice can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or fermented and distilled into liquor.

Description

The cashew tree is large and

leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, 4–22 centimetres (1+128+34 inches) long and 2–15 cm (34–6 in) broad, with smooth margins. The flowers are produced in a panicle or corymb up to 26 cm (10 in) long; each flower is small, pale green at first, then turning reddish, with five slender, acute petals 7–15 millimetres (1458 in) long. The largest cashew tree in the world covers an area around 7,500 m2 (81,000 sq ft) and is located in Natal, Brazil.[citation needed
]

The fruit of the cashew tree is an

hypocarpium, that develops from the pedicel and the receptacle of the cashew flower.[5][6][2] Called the cashew apple, better known in Central America as marañón, it ripens into a yellow or red structure about 5–11 cm (2–4+14 in) long.[3][6]

The true fruit of the cashew tree is a

lacquer tree
.

Etymology

The English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree: caju (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaˈʒu]), also known as acaju, which itself is from the Tupi word acajú, literally meaning "nut that produces itself".[3][4]

The

generic name Anacardium is composed of the Greek prefix ana- (ἀνά-, aná, 'up, upward'), the Greek cardia (καρδία, kardía, 'heart'), and the Neo-Latin suffix -ium. It possibly refers to the heart shape of the fruit,[8] to "the top of the fruit stem"[9] or to the seed.[10] The word anacardium was earlier used to refer to Semecarpus anacardium (the marking nut tree) before Carl Linnaeus transferred it to the cashew; both plants are in the same family.[11] The epithet occidentale derives from the Western (or Occidental) world.[12]

The plant has diverse common names in various languages among its wide distribution range,[4] including anacardier (French) with the fruit referred to as pomme de Cajou,[13] caju (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaˈʒu]), or acaju (Portuguese).[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to Northeastern Brazil, and later was distributed around the world in the 1500s by

Estado da Índia Portuguesa India between 1560 and 1565. From there, it spread throughout Southeast Asia and eventually Africa.[citation needed
]

Cultivation

Cashew production
(with shell) 2021
Country Production
(tonnes)
 Côte d'Ivoire 837,850
 India 738,000
 Vietnam 348,504
 Philippines 255,931
 Tanzania 210,786
World 3,708,153
Source:
FAOSTAT of the United Nations[16]

The cashew tree is cultivated in the tropics between 25°N and 25°S, and is well-adapted to hot lowland areas with a pronounced dry season, where the mango and tamarind trees also thrive.[17] The traditional cashew tree is tall (up to 14 m) and takes three years from planting before it starts production, and eight years before economic harvests can begin.[citation needed]

More recent breeds, such as the dwarf cashew trees, are up to 6 m (20 ft) tall, and start producing after the first year, with economic yields after three years. The cashew nut yields for the traditional tree are about 0.25 metric tons per hectare, in contrast to over a ton per hectare for the dwarf variety. Grafting and other modern tree management technologies are used to further improve and sustain cashew nut yields in commercial orchards.[citation needed]

Production

In 2021, global production of cashew nuts (as the kernel) was 3.7 million tonnes, led by Ivory Coast and India with a combined 43% of the world total (table).

Trade

The top ten exporters of cashew nuts (in-shell; HS Code 080131) in value (USD) in 2021 were Ghana, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Guinea.

Top Cashew Nut (in-shell) Exporters, 2017–2021 (USD)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
World 2.8B 2.8B 1.9B 2.0B 1.3B
Ghana 253.2M 455.7M 222.6M 340.7M 172.7M
Tanzania 530.0M 426.8M 221.4M 362.0M 159.0M
Guinea-Bissau 318.0M 129.0M 122.8M 128.5M 143.6M
Nigeria 69.3M 191.1M 74.5M 94.4M 138.8M
Ivory Coast 1.0B 1.1B 730.8M 612.0M 129.7M
Burkina Faso 144.8M 198.9M 81.0M 53.3M 96.0M
Senegal 3.4M 33.2M 60.5M 38.6M 92.3M
Indonesia 112.7M 84.4M 121.0M 102.4M 70.7M
UAE 103.1K 74.5M 586.3K 3.4M 55.2M
Guinea 161.6M 41.2M 45.2M 35.7M 53.1M
Source:[18]

From 2017 to 2021, the top ten exporters of cashew nuts (shelled; HS Code 080132) were Vietnam, India, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, and the United States.

In 2014, rapid growth of cashew cultivation in Ivory Coast made this country the top African exporter.[19] Fluctuations in world market prices, poor working conditions, and low pay for local harvesting have caused discontent in the cashew nut industry.[20][21][22] Almost all cashews produced in Africa between 2000 and 2019 were exported as raw nuts which are much less profitable than shelled nuts.[23] One of the goals of the African Cashew Alliance is to promote Africa's cashew processing capabilities to improve the profitability of Africa's cashew industry.[24]

Top Cashew Nut (shelled) Exporters, 2017–2021 (USD)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
World 5.5B 5.1B 4.7B 4.5B 4.2B
Vietnam 3.4B 3.2B 3.0B 2.9B 2.7B
India 959.9M 673.6M 569.6M 407.9M 437.8M
Netherlands 302.8M 304.3M 248.3M 266.0M 281.8M
Germany 168.1M 179.8M 174.5M 202.3M 183.2M
Brazil 114.2M 117.0M 121.3M 91.0M 96.8M
Ivory Coast 73.2M 97.1M 68.4M 110.4M 81.8M
Nigeria 12.0M 20.2M 37.3M 20.1M 45.0M
Indonesia 60.2M 55.6M 57.0M 45.7M 40.7M
Burkina Faso 12.1M 13.8M 18.9M 16.3M 21.6M
United States 33.5M 26.3M 22.7M 21.1M 19.8M
Source:[25]

Toxicity

Some people are

allergic to cashews, but they are a less frequent allergen than other tree nuts or peanuts.[26] For up to 6% of children and 3% of adults, consuming cashews may cause allergic reactions, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.[27][28][29][30] These allergies are triggered by the proteins found in tree nuts, and cooking often does not remove or change these proteins.[31] Reactions to cashew and tree nuts can also occur as a consequence of hidden nut ingredients or traces of nuts that may inadvertently be introduced during food processing, handling, or manufacturing.[28][29]

The

anacardic acid, and cardanol.[6][32] Due to the possible dermatitis, cashews are typically not sold in the shell to consumers.[33] Readily and inexpensively extracted from the waste shells, cardanol is under research for its potential applications in nanomaterials and biotechnology.[34]

Uses

Nutrition

Cashews, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy553 kcal (2,310 kJ)
30.19 g
Starch23.49 g
Sugars 5.91 g
0.00 g
Dietary fiber3.3 g
43.85 g
Saturated7.783 g
Monounsaturated23.797 g
Polyunsaturated7.845 g
18.22 g
Niacin (B3)
7%
1.062 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
17%
0.86 mg
Vitamin B6
32%
0.417 mg
Folate (B9)
6%
25 μg
Vitamin B12
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
1%
0.5 mg
Vitamin D
0%
0 μg
Vitamin E
6%
0.90 mg
Vitamin K
32%
34.1 μg
Copper
110%
2.2 mg
Iron
51%
6.68 mg
Magnesium
82%
292 mg
Manganese
79%
1.66 mg
Phosphorus
85%
593 mg
Potassium
22%
660 mg
Selenium
28%
19.9 μg
Zinc
61%
5.78 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water5.20 g

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.[35]

Raw cashews are 5% water, 30% 

Nut and shell

Culinary uses for cashew seeds in snacking and cooking are similar to those for all tree seeds called nuts.[3][6]

Cashews are commonly used in

kaju barfi). It is also used in powdered form in the preparation of several Indian sweets and desserts. In Goan cuisine, both roasted and raw kernels are used whole for making curries and sweets. Cashews are also used in Thai and Chinese cuisines, generally in whole form. In the Philippines, cashew is a known product of Antipolo, and is eaten with suman. The province of Pampanga also has a sweet dessert called turrones de casuy, which is cashew marzipan wrapped in white wafers. In Indonesia, roasted and salted cashews are called kacang mete or kacang mede, while the cashew apple is called jambu monyet (lit. ‘monkey rose apple’).[citation needed
]

In the 21st century, cashew cultivation increased in several African countries to meet the demands for manufacturing

dairy milk.[37] In Mozambique, bolo polana is a cake prepared using powdered cashews and mashed potatoes as the main ingredients. This dessert is common in South Africa.[38]

Husk

The cashew nut kernel has a slight curvature and two cotyledons, each representing around 20–25% of the weight of the nuts. It is encased in a reddish-brown membrane, approximately 5% of the total nut called a husk (testa). Cashew nut husk is used in emerging industrial applications, such as an adsorbent, composites, biopolymers, dyes and enzyme synthesis.[39]

Apple

The mature cashew apple can be eaten fresh, cooked in curries, or fermented into vinegar, citric acid[40] or an alcoholic drink.[6] It is also used to make preserves, chutneys and jams in some countries such as India and Brazil.[6] In many countries, particularly within South America, the cashew apple is used to flavor drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.[3][2]

In Brazil, cashew fruit juice and the fruit pulp are used in the production of sweets, juice, mixed with alcoholic beverages such as cachaça, and as a flour, milk, or cheese.[41] In Panama, the cashew fruit is cooked with water and sugar for a prolonged time to make a sweet, brown, paste-like dessert called dulce de marañón (marañón being a Spanish name for cashew).[42]

Cashew nuts are more widely traded than cashew apples, because the fruit, unlike the nut, is easily bruised and has a very limited shelf life.[43] Cashew apple juice, however, may be used for manufacturing blended juices.[43]

When consumed, the apple's

astringency is sometimes removed by steaming the fruit for five minutes before washing it in cold water. Steeping the fruit in boiling salt water for five minutes also reduces the astringency.[44]

In Cambodia, where the plant is usually grown as an ornamental rather than an economic tree, the fruit is a delicacy and is eaten with salt.[13]

Alcohol

In the Indian state of Goa, the ripened cashew apples are mashed and the juice is extracted and kept for fermentation[6] for a few days which is called neero. Fermented juice then undergoes a double distillation process. The resulting beverage is called feni or fenny. Feni is about 40–42% alcohol (80–84 proof). The single-distilled version is called urrak, which is about 15% alcohol (30 proof).[45] In Tanzania, the cashew apple (bibo in Swahili) is dried and reconstituted with water and fermented, then distilled to make a strong liquor called gongo.[46]

Nut oil

Cashew nut oil is a dark yellow oil derived from pressing the cashew nuts (typically from lower value broken chunks created accidentally during processing), and is used for cooking or as a salad dressing. The highest quality oil is produced from a single cold pressing.[47]

Shell oil

Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) or cashew shell oil (

folk medicine and for anti-termite treatment of timber.[48]
Its composition varies depending on how it is processed.

These substances are skin allergens, like lacquer and the oils of poison ivy, and they present a danger during manual cashew processing.[48]

This natural oil phenol has interesting chemical structural features that can be modified to create a wide spectrum of biobased

polyols, which have recently seen increased demand for their biobased origin and key chemical attributes such as high reactivity, range of functionalities, reduction in blowing agents, and naturally occurring fire retardant properties in the field of rigid polyurethanes, aided by their inherent phenolic structure and larger number of reactive units per unit mass.[34]

CNSL may be used as a resin for

novolac is another versatile industrial monomer deriving from cardanol typically used as a reticulating agent for epoxy matrices in composite applications providing good thermal and mechanical properties to the final composite material.[citation needed
]

Animal feed

Discarded cashew nuts unfit for human consumption, alongside the residues of oil extraction from cashew kernels, can be fed to livestock. Animals can also eat the leaves of cashew trees.[52]

Other uses

As well as the nut and fruit, the plant has several other uses. In Cambodia, the bark gives a yellow dye, the timber is used in boat-making, and for house-boards, and the wood makes excellent charcoal.[13] The shells yield a black oil used as a preservative and water-proofing agent in varnishes, cements, and as a lubricant or timber seal.[6] Timber is used to manufacture furniture, boats, packing crates, and charcoal.[6] Its juice turns black on exposure to air, providing an indelible ink.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jostock, "Cashew Industry", p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c d "Cashew". Encyclopedia Britannica. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^ from the original on 15 March 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d "Anacardium occidentale (cashew nut)". CABI. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. S2CID 83230755
    .
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n James A Duke (1983). "Anacardium occidentale L." Handbook of Energy Crops. (unpublished); In: NewCROP, New Crop Resource Online Program, Center for New Crops and Plant Products, Purdue University. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  7. ^ Kapinga, F. A.; Kasuga, L. J. F.; Kafiriti, E. M. "Growth and production of cashew nut" (PDF). Soils, Plant Growth and Crop Production. Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. . referring to the shape of the fruit
  9. ^ Merriam-Webster: "from the heartlike shape of the top of the fruit stem"
  10. ^ George Milbry Gould (1898). An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences: Including the Pronunciation, Accentuation, Derivation, and Definition of the Terms Used in Medicine, Anatomy, Surgery ... P. Blakiston. p. 73. ἀνά, up; καρδία, the heart, from its heart-shaped seeds
  11. . (Greek ana = upwards + kardia = heart); applied by 16th century apothecaries to the fruit of the marking nut, Semecarpus anacardium, and later used by Linnaeus as a generic name for the cashew.
  12. ^ "Occidental". The Free Dictionary. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. p. 34.
  14. ^ "Cashew". Department of Horticulture, Cornell University. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. ^ Carolyn Joystick, "Cashew Industry" in Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture, vol. 2, p. 5. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons 1996.
  16. FAOSTAT of the UN
    . 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Cultivating Cashew Nuts". ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, South Africa. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  18. ^ "2022 Raw Cashew Nut global market overview today". Tridge.
  19. ^ Bavier, Joe (29 October 2014). "War-scarred Ivory Coast aims to conquer the world of cashews". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Tanzania riots over cashew nut payments". BBC. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
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  24. ^ Nigeria, Guardian (29 September 2023). "ACA seeks creation of cashew development fund to enhance raw nuts processing in Africa". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  25. ^ "2022 Cashew Nut Kernel global market overview today". Tridge.
  26. PMID 8153790
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  29. ^ a b "Cashew Allergies". Informall Database – funded by European Union. 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010.
  30. ^ "Food allergies" (PDF). World Health Organization, International Food Safety Authorities Network. 2006.
  31. ^ "Cashew - allergy information (InformAll: Communicating about Food Allergies - University of Manchester)". research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  32. PMID 8153790
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  33. ^ "Why Cashews Aren't Sold In The Shell". Moment of Science, Indiana Public Media. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  34. ^
    PMID 25894225
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  35. ^ United States Department of Agriculture; Agricultural Research Service (2019). "FoodData Central". Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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  38. OCLC 519442115
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  48. ^ .
  49. ^ .
  50. ^ a b c "Exposure and Use Data for Cashew Nut Shell Liquid" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  51. ^ Ferri, Enrico (22 May 2011). "Bioresins Derived from Cashew Nutshell Oil". MaterialsToday. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  52. ^ Heuzé, V.; Tran, G.; Hassoun, P.; Bastianelli, D.; Lebas, F. (2017). "Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nuts and by-products". Feedipedia. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

External links