Curious about how cashews grow? These unique nuts thrive in tropical climates and are widely cultivated in Brazil, India, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia. Such regions offer the warm and humid conditions cashew trees need to flourish. The tree produces an unusual structure called the cashew apple, from which the cashew seed—the edible nut—hangs. This seed is attached to the bottom of the brightly colored, red or yellow cashew apple, a false fruit that distracts animals and protects the actual seed from being eaten.
Also, read my guide on:
The Secret to Growing Avocado from Pit!
The cashew apple is brightly coloured to attract animals, but its delicate nature makes it unsuitable for transport or sale. Despite being edible, the cashew apple is prone to spoilage, as its fragile peel breaks easily. On the other hand, the nut is encased in a tough shell, safeguarding it during harvest and processing. This nut is a valuable commodity in the industry, appreciated for its versatility and taste.
Growing and harvesting cashews is a fascinating example of nature’s design. The cashew apple is a diversion to ensure the seed’s survival while the clock ticks for farmers to handle this fragile but valuable crop carefully.
Cashew Nuts Aren’t Nuts Actually
Although we call them cashew nuts, they are not true nuts in the botanical sense. They are seeds that grow attached to the cashew apple, a false fruit resembling a bell pepper in shape and vibrant colours. This real seed, the cashew nut, dangles from the bottom of the fruit. Fruit-producing trees like the cashew is fascinating because when the cashew apple ripens, it drops to the earth, making it easy for workers to harvest the nuts by grabbing and twisting them off the apple.
The natural form of the cashew is encased in a hard shell that contains poisonous compounds like anacardic acid, making it unsafe to eat raw. To make cashews edible, the nuts are carefully treated at a high temperature to neutralize these toxic substances. This process removes the harmful compounds and ensures the nut inside is safe to eat.
Cashews undergo an intricate harvesting and preparation process, starting with their unique attachment to the cashew apple and removing their toxic shell. This journey from a fruit-producing tree to a delicious, ready-to-eat snack involves careful handling and expert treatment, showcasing how nature and human effort combine to produce one of the world’s favourite foods.
What Is a Cashew Tree and Its History
Origin
The cashew tree, scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale, is a remarkable evergreen nut tree from the Anacardiaceae family. Originating in northeastern Brazil and southeastern Venezuela, it has been cultivated since the sixteenth century, thanks to Portuguese explorers who introduced it to other tropical regions. Known as “caju” in its native land, the tree became popular as the Portuguese began exporting it to countries like India, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America, where it thrives in tropical, warm climates. Locally called “marañón” in some areas, this tree holds historical and economic significance.
The cashew tree has a unique structure, with pedicels that grow flowers, forming cashew fruits and apples. While the cashew apple is an accessory fruit used to make jams and jellies, the true fruit is the hard shell encasing the cashew seed, or what we know as the cashew nut. Mature trees produce these distinctive nuts and support ecosystems with their expansive branch system, creating a natural umbrella that shelters agriculture from rain and wind.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The cashew industry is now a multibillion-dollar global trade, with regions like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal leading production in India. These trees are vital for controlling soil erosion, thanks to their strong root system, which stabilizes nutrient-rich topsoil—a solution to challenges like coastal erosion introduced by the Portuguese in Goa. Their ability to conserve water and protect against wind makes them ideal for irrigation and mechanized farming. Additionally, elephants help propagate and disperse seeds, ensuring the tree’s natural growth in various regions.
Nutritional and Agricultural Significance
The cashew tree is celebrated not just for its calcium, vitamin C, and carbohydrate-rich cashew nuts but also for its versatility in products like nut butter and cashews’ nutritional value comparable to pistachio nuts. This tree is deeply tied to agricultural fertility and economic productivity, making it a cornerstone crop for communities worldwide. Its roots in South America have spread far, creating a legacy that remains as vibrant as its cashew apples.
Where do cashew trees grow?
Cashew trees thrive in wet and dry tropical regions, perfectly suited for Brazil, India, Vietnam, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Southeast Asia. Thanks to their warm climates, these areas are the main producers of cashew nuts. Day temperatures ranging from 10°C (50°F) to 40°C (105°F) are tolerable for cashews, but an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) is considered ideal for their growth. Though cashew trees are drought-resistant and can grow in marginal soils, they perform best in sandy soils with proper water availability and minimal weeds.
These highly adaptable trees can flourish where other fruit trees fail, making them invaluable for regions with challenging agricultural conditions. However, providing the best soils and consistent care ensures they produce high-quality cashew nuts while maintaining healthy growth. Their ability to withstand various environmental challenges has helped them become a key crop for tropical countries.
How to Plant Cashew Trees
Prepare Fresh Seeds
- Use fresh seeds as they germinate readily.
- Extract the seeds from the nutshell and plant them immediately for the best results.
- Alternatively, you can purchase seedlings or grafted trees from fruit tree nurseries. These are often used by commercial growers because they are reliable.
Choose the Planting Site
- Select a well-drained spot, as cashew trees dislike “wet feet” and won’t thrive in heavy clay soils.
- Ensure the location is protected from strong winds and has adequate sunlight for growth.
Plant the Seeds or Seedlings
- Sow seeds directly into moist soil, or plant them in pots if starting indoors.
- Seeds typically sprout within four to five days under proper conditions.
- Space trees at least 10-12 meters (30-40 feet) apart to allow for their tall and expansive growth.
Monitor and Care for the Young Trees
- Protect young trees from harsh weather conditions until they establish deep roots.
- Avoid waterlogging and ensure steady, moderate moisture to help your cashew trees thrive.
How to Take Care of a Cashew Nut Tree
Growing a cashew tree requires attention to its specific needs for a warm climate, ideally in USDA hardiness zones 10 or 11. Planting fresh cashew seeds ensures better germination, though this can be a slower process, with young trees taking up to five years to yield fruit. You can purchase a potted cashew tree from a garden centre for faster results. To achieve maximum growth, place your tree in an area with full sun—at least six hours of daily direct sunlight—as shade can lead to fewer cashew seeds. These trees thrive in sandy soil with a moderate pH level of 6, while clay or dense soils that retain too much water should be avoided.
Ensure your cashew tree grows in well-draining soil and water it carefully. Water the tree moderately in summer, but avoid overwatering, as soggy roots can harm the plant. In winter, water more sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between sessions. Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer every other month during the growing season to encourage strong roots and healthy fruiting. Adding compost or organic mulch around the base provides a nutrient boost while helping retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Protect your tree from common pest issues, such as borer pests, which can cause a swollen stem during the seedling stage. Regularly prune infested branches and consider applying a bark spray to prevent damage. When handling raw cashews and their cashew nutshells, always wear gardening gloves, as they contain a caustic oil similar to poison ivy, which can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. With these simple growers’ tips, your cashew tree can flourish, producing fruit and adding beauty to your garden.
Harvesting Cashews
Cashew trees begin to flower and set fruit during the dry season, typically in winter. After a couple of months following flowering, the cashew apples mature and display bright yellow, pink, or red. The attached cashew nut, enclosed in a dull grey shell, signals readiness when the fruit naturally falls to the ground. Collecting these fallen fruits promptly is important to prevent damage by birds or pests. Once gathered, the cashew apple and nut are carefully separated, allowing each to be used differently.
Cashew nuts can be processed for consumption or storage. Properly handled shells allow the nuts to remain fresh for up to two years when kept in a cool, dry place. Processing the nuts requires effort, as the shells contain caustic oils that need to be removed safely. Cashew apples can be enjoyed fresh or turned into other products. With attention to harvest times and careful processing, you can maximize the yield and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
How Cashew Nuts are Processed
Cashews undergo an elaborate processing system to ensure high quality and a better price in the market. Countries like India are known for their traditional hand-processing methods, which yield the highest output of unscathed kernels. Each cashew nut is carefully handled, as only one nut grows per fruit, making it a time-intensive process. After being farmed and harvested, the nuts are separated from the false fruit, roasted, and cooled. The shells are then cracked open to extract the delicate nut, which is further peeled and sundried.
The processed raw nuts are sorted by quality before reaching supermarkets or being used in other value-added products. The process is expensive and labour-intensive. Yet, the value of the final product often feels incommensurate with the amount of labour involved. Despite these challenges, the precision in handling ensures that whole nuts maintain their premium appeal in the global market.
Manual Cashew Roasting
Cashews undergo an elaborate processing system to ensure high quality and a better price in the market. Countries like India are known for their traditional hand-processing methods, which yield the highest output of unscathed kernels. Each cashew nut is carefully handled, as only one nut grows per fruit, making it a time-intensive process. After being farmed and harvested, the nuts are separated from the false fruit, roasted, and cooled. The shells are then cracked open to extract the delicate nut, which is further peeled and sundried.
Nutrition Facts about Cashews
Serving size = one ounce = 28 grams = about 18 nuts.
165 calories
<1 gram protein
14 grams fat
9 grams carbohydrates
<1 gram fiber
1 gram sugar
Copper – 67% DV (Daily Value)
Magnesium – 20% DV
Manganese – 20% DV
Zinc – 15% DV
Phosphorus – 13% DV
Iron – 11% DV
Selenium – 10% DV
Thiamine – 10% DV
Vitamin K – 8% DV
Vitamin B6 – 7% DV
Final Observations
Cashews grow on tropical cashew trees, thriving in warm climates like Brazil, India, and Vietnam. The unique cashew apple, a brightly coloured false fruit, holds the cashew nut at its base, encased in a protective shell. This nut undergoes intricate harvesting and processing before it becomes the edible snack we know. The tree is versatile, supporting fruit production and soil conservation, making it valuable in agriculture. From flowering to final processing, the journey of cashews highlights the delicate balance between nature and human effort in creating this beloved global product.
FAQs
Q- Are cashew apples edible?
Yes, cashew apples are edible and can be eaten fresh or used to make juices, jams, and other products.
Q- Are cashews a fruit or a nut?
Cashews are seeds that grow at the base of the cashew apple, which is a false fruit.
Q- Are cashews grown on a tree or a bush?
Cashews grow on trees, specifically the cashew tree, which is a tropical evergreen.
Q- Where do cashews grow best?
Cashews grow best in warm, tropical climates like Brazil, India, Vietnam, and Africa.
