Cashew Nut

DESCRIPTION The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a medium-sized tropical tree usually cultivated for its fruit (cashew nut) and pseudofruit (cashew apple). It is also a multipurpose species that provides a broad range of services. About 30-40% cashew kernels are discarded during the process of roasting and are then fed to livestock. USES Cashew nuts (kernels) must be extracted from their poisonous shell with caution in order not to be contaminated by the toxic substances embedded in the mesocarp. Once extracted from the nut, the kernels are roasted to destroy the remaining toxins. The kernels are a nutritious food as they contain large amounts of fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. * Cashew nut testa are the red skins that are manually or mechanically removed in the final step of preparing cashew nuts for confectionery. These skins may contain pieces of broken kernels and can be used as feed. * Cashew tree leaves can be cut and eaten fresh or cooked. * Cashew tree timber provides good firewood and can make valuable charcoal. The nut shells can be burnt to produce heat to be used in the processing of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid. In 2013, the world production of cashew nuts was 4.39 million t. The 5 most important producers were Vietnam (1.1 million t), Nigeria (0.97 million t), India (0.75 million t), Côte d'Ivoire (0.45 million t) and Benin (0.18 million t).