CASHEW NUT : Comprehensive Information

Cashew Trees - Cashew Fruits - Cashew Nuts

Origin of Cashew Trees

• Scientific Name: Anacardium occidentale L., also known as the "cashew tree" or "upside-down fruit" due to the seed being located outside the fruit.
• Names in Different Languages: Cashew (English), Caju or Acaju (Portuguese), Kaju (Hindi), Điều (Vietnamese).
• Botanical Family: Cashew trees belong to the mango family (Anacardiaceae), not the legume family as commonly mistaken.
• Origin: cashew tree was found the first time in Northeast Brazil, then it was introduced to Asia and Africa between 1560-1565, after the Americas were discovered. It thrives in hot, humid tropical climates in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
• Cashews in Vietnam: Introduced in the 19th century, cashew trees were recognized as a key economic crop in 1989. They are primarily cultivated in southeastern provinces like Binh Phuoc (also call "cashew capital"), Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong,….
• Economic Value: The cashew nut is the most nutrient-rich part and economically valuable of the plant, primarily used for food. By-products include cashew shells and shell oil, used in industrial applications such as mechanical and shipbuilding industries.

How Cashew Tree Grow

Cashew tree are long-lived and can thrive for up to 40 years, with optimal productivity between 10-20 years.

• Roots: Cashew trees have a taproot system that penetrates deep into the soil. At 5-6 months, roots reach up to 2 meters deep and continue spreading horizontally, securing the kaju tree and absorbing nutrients. This allows the tree to survive dry seasons of 5-6 months without water.
• Trunk: Mature trees grow to 6-10 meters tall. The trunk contains sap, and the canopy spreads horizontally like an umbrella. To ensure proper growth, avoid planting trees too densely, as this limits sunlight and space.
• Leaves: Thick and 10-20 cm long, with short stalks and dark green color. A mature tree’s canopy can cover 50-60 m² by the age of 6-7 years.
• Flowers: Appear at the end of the rainy season or start of the dry season. Cashew flowers include both unisexual and bisexual types, blooming in clusters of dozens to hundreds. Trees begin flowering at 3 years old, with blooms lasting about three months.
• Cashew Fruit: Known as "cashew apples, kaju fruit" these are technically false fruits, formed by the swollen stem, while the true fruit is the nut beneath. They are bell-shaped, green when young, and turn yellow, pink, or red when ripe. Cashew apples are juicy with a tangy-sweet taste, a bit astringent, rich nutriention, and edible.

• Cashew Nut: The nut forms first after pollination, weighing 3-5 grams each, and represents about 1/10th the weight of the entire fruit. Shaped like a kidney or big bean, raw cashew seed are greenish-gray, darkening when mature. Each nut has three parts:
  1. Outer Shell: Thick and hard (1-3 mm), containing toxic urushiol that can irritate skin. Cashew shell oil is used in industrial applications.
  2. Inner Husk: A thin, brown membrane visible after removing the outer shell. Edible but not flavorful, it may contain  bit urushiol, so not recommended.
  3. Cashew kernel: The light yellow or white core is the most nutritious and economically valuable part, rich in oils, with a distinct aroma and buttery flavor.

Classification of Cashew Nuts

Cashew nuts are classified internationally based on:

Shape

Size

Each whole cashew nut has a different size and will have a different weight, so the size criterion will be based on the number of cashew nuts per pound (454 grams).

Color

Modern machinery, such as vibrating and sieving equipment, is used to sort nuts in large quantity, but manual sorting ensures higher precision.

Cashew's Nutrition and Health Benefits

Despite their small size, cashew nuts are nutrient-dense, containing unsaturated fats, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, minerals like magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins C, K, E, and B6, which help:

• Weight Management: Helps with weight loss and bodybuilding.
• Heart Health: Promotes cardiovascular health.
• Bone Health: Strengthens bones.
• Immune System: Enhances immunity.
• Nervous System: Supports a healthy nervous system.
• Skin, Eyes, Hair: Improves overall appearance and health.
• Cancer Prevention: Contains antioxidants that may help reduce cancer risk.
• Diabetes Management: Lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes.

=> For details, visit : Are Cashew Nuts Good for Your Health? Health benefits, Nutrition, Risks, and Proper Consumption

Global Cashew Market

Largest Exporters of Raw Cashew Nuts

• Côte d’Ivoire: The leading exporter of raw cashew nuts (unshelled cashews) dedicating 1.6 million hectares to cashew farming, engaging over 500,000 farmers. The country processes only 10-20% of its production locally, exporting the remainder to Asia for further processing.
• Cambodia and Ghana: Rank as the second and third largest exporters of raw cashews.

These countries aim to improve local processing capabilities by importing modern machinery, adopting new technologies, and supporting factory expansion,… to take advantage of the available domestic cashew supply, helping to increase the value of export products

Bigest Exporters of Cashew Kernels

• Vietnam: The world’s leading exporter of cashew kernels (shelled cashew nuts), holding over 50% of the global market. Despite limited domestic raw cashew production (10-15% of demand), Vietnam imports raw nuts from countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Cambodia. Advanced technology, quality focus, and competitive pricing have helped Vietnam maintain this position since 2006.

In coming future, Vietnamese government and the Cashew Industry Association Vinacas will strive to promote the expansion of domestic cashew growing areas, and cooperate, exploit and develop cashew raw material areas in Cambodia and Southern Laos, to proactively supply raw cashew nuts at stable prices.

Largest Importers of Cashew Kernels

• United States: The top importer of cashew kernels globally.
• Although Vietnam dominates kernel exports, it also imports low-quality, cheap cashew kernels from other country by taking advantage of tax incentives from cashew growing countries. The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has proposed policy changes to protect the reputation of high-quality Vietnamese cashews.