The cashew nut. I believe everyone in the class has seen one, perhaps eaten one… or many. Filling the mouth to the brim with nature’s goodness… like, well, popcorn. If you want it whole, halved, in pieces, roasted, dry-roasted, salted or unsalted, you will find it as well as any combination thereof.

It is grown on a tree that could grow anywhere between 14-40 feet. The smaller tree is the one mostly used for picking as it is easier to pick and is more cost-effective.

Portuguese missionaries took it to East Africa and India during the late 16th century, and to Brazil where it grew well in low altitudes. Brazil remains one of the most prolific of the nut’s growth and production. However, Vietnam is still the world’s number one producer and the US as the one number one country in its consumption.

The cashew, or Anacardium occidentale, as it is better known, has many nutritional benefits that could: help reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Its oil can be used to treat a number of skin rashes, warts and callouses. A nut unlike any nutter. That I am aware of anyway….

Here is the caveat. Why can’t you un-shell a cashew yourself unlike most other nuts, I ask you? The shell is poisonous! The cashew shell is toxic. The nut looks like a colourful snail without the antennae. When ripe, the whole thing falls off the tree, and the bottom part is gathered for processing.

To rid the shell en masse they are shipped to an industrial plant to remove the shells before they are shipped out. Whoa. So kids, don’t let anyone fool you trying to sell these faux cashew nuts or your next stop is the hospital ward.

However, the cashew still has many delicious recipes that have been around for many years and many more being added all the time. One of my favourites is cashew chicken. Please find the recipe here:

https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/cashew-chicken.html

https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2007/cashews-the-nut-you-cant-buy-in-a-shell/ https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/superfoods/cashews-nutritional-benefits/ https://www.diynatural.com/benefits-of-cashews/ https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/cashew-chicken.html https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/superfoods/cashews-nutritional-benefits https://treepicturesonline.com/cashew_tree_pictures.html https://treepicturesonline.com/cashewtreefruit.jpg