Can you eat the fruit of a cashew tree? All about nutritional values, benefits, and procession
- Author: Mai at
- Life Style
Cashew trees are famous for their nuts, but did you know they also bear fruit? While the cashew nut is popular worldwide, many people wonder if the fruit of the cashew tree is edible.
In this article, let Otisbp.com tell you all about the cashew fruit, from its nutritional value to how you can enjoy it.
Learn about the cashew tree, cashew fruit and cashew nut.
The cashew tree is a long-living hardwood tree. It begins producing flowers and fruit in its third year and yields consistently each year. Mature trees can reach heights of 6-12 meters, and each hectare of cashew trees can produce 2-3 tons of nuts annually. The older the tree, the higher the yield.
Where are cashews grown? Cashew trees thrive in tropical climates such as Vietnam, India, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Indonesia,...
Cashew is a special plant, as its nut grows outside the fruit, forming two distinct parts:
- The fruit (also call cashew apple):
- Description: The top part of the cashew, shaped like a bell pepper or apple, grows from the flower stem. It measures about 10-12 cm in length and 4-8 cm in diameter. When unripe, the fruit is green or white and inedible. When ripe, it becomes spongy in texture and turns yellow or red, depending on the variety.
- Can you eat cashew fruit? Otisbp.com confirms they are edible with the taste of sweet and sour with a slight astringency, juicy, soft, and spongy.
- Economic Value: Low, the cashew fruit is not widely sold on the market and is mostly found in areas where cashew trees are grown.
- The nut (cashew nut or cashew kernels):
- Description: Found at the bottom of the fruit, the cashew nut is kidney-shaped, about 2-3 cm in length, weighing 5-9 grams. It has a hard, gray shell that is inedible, but the white kernel inside is the most nutrient-dense part of the cashew.
- Taste: buttery, slightly sweet, mild, dry, and crunchy.
- Economic Value: Very high, as cashew nuts provide numerous health benefits and are widely consumed. In fact, Vietnam was the largest exporter of cashew nuts globally in 2023.
=> Learn more about cashew nut's nutrition, health benefits, risks, how to eat them properly.
Nutritional Value of Cashew Fruit
Cashew fruit (cashew apple) contain a lot of nutritional value such as fiber, protein, iron, carbs, vary of vitamins…Below is a detailed table of the nutrition fact and daily value comparison, according to the DABM-1964 - TKPI Ministry of Health 2019
Portion: 100g of cashew fruit.
Name | Amount | Unit | Daily Value Comparison |
Water | 82.6 | g | 4.13% |
Food Fiber | 1.2 | g | 4.29% |
Food Energy | 64 | Kcal | 2.46% |
Protein | 0.7 | g | 1.40% |
Carbohydrate (CHO) | 15.8 | g | 5.75% |
Ash | 0.3 | g |
|
Fat | 0.6 | g | 0.77% |
Minerals |
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|
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Phosphorus (P) | 13 | mg | 1.04% |
Iron (Fe), Ferrum | 0.5 | mg | 2.78% |
Potassium (K), Kalium | 107.8 | mg | 2.29% |
Sodium (Na), Natrium | 12 | mg | 0.52% |
Calcium (Ca) | 4 | mg | 0.31% |
Vitamins |
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|
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Thiamin (vitamin B1) | 0.02 | mg | 1.67% |
Vitamin C | 197 | mg | 218.89% |
Niacin, C6H5NO2 | 2 | mg | 12.50% |
Total carotene (Re) | 25 | mcg |
|
Beta carotene (β-carotene) | 1604 | mcg |
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Health benefits of cashew fruit
1. Hydration Boost
The main component of cashew fruit is water. Simply squeezing the fruit will release a noticeable amount of water, making it a great way to help replenish your body's hydration levels.
2. Immune System Support
Cashew fruit is incredibly rich in vitamin C, containing 5-6 times more than oranges, lemons, or bananas. Just 100 grams of cashew fruit can provide nearly 220% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. This helps boost white blood cell production, fights oxidative stress, and strengthens the immune system.
3. Beneficial for Diabetes
Cashew fruit extract is rich in myricetin and quercetin derivatives. These compounds have been shown to inhibit fat accumulation and insulin resistance in obese mice. Additionally, the fruit contains fiber, which helps control hunger and prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.
4. Prevents Stomach Ulcers
Pharmacological studies have demonstrated the ability of anacardic acid found in cashew fruit extract to help reduce the formation of stomach ulcers. It works by inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter pylori (HP) bacteria, a major cause of gastric ulcers.
Popular Methods of Processing Cashew Fruit
Cashew fruit can be eaten raw or processed into a variety of foods. Below are some common uses of cashew fruit:
- Eating raw: The best way to enjoy cashew fruit is to eat it fresh from the tree, as the water amount is high in its flesh, and can spoil quickly. Slice the fruit thinly and eat it with a salty dip to reduce its astringency. Since the fruit is sour, it’s recommended not to eat when you are hungry, it would harm your stomach.
- Cashew fruit juice: Add a bit of sugar and a pinch of salt to neutralize the astringent flavor, and serve with ice for a refreshing and nutritious drink.
- cashew fruit wine: Extract the juice and ferment it to create a light, sweet, slightly sour wine with a mild astringency. This wine has diuretic properties, prevents nausea, and is good for digestion.
- Making vinegar: When combined with vinegar yeast or white wine, cashew fruit can ferment into vinegar after 45-60 days. This vinegar can be used in cooking.
- Candies and jams: Cashew fruit can also be made into various sweets such as candies and jams.
- Additionally, due to the higher yield of cashew fruit compared to cashew nuts, farmers often use the fruit as livestock feed, fertilizer, or for producing bio-fuel.
Conclusion
Cashew fruit are not only edible but also packed with nutritional benefits. Whether you’re looking to add a unique fruit to your diet or simply curious about the other half of the cashew tree, cashew apples are worth a try.
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Learn more:
Vietnam Cashew Export Industry - A Comprehensive Overview
CASHEW NUT : Comprehensive Information
Are Cashew Nuts Good for Your Health? Health benefits, Nutrition, Risks, and Proper ConsumptionCan Dogs Eat Cashews? All good and bad sides and how to feed them safely
Are Cashew Nuts Friendly with Keto Diet?
Delicious Recipes:
Cashew Chicken [ Easy-to-Follow Recipe ]