Cashewnut

Native to Northeastern Brazil, the cashew has been around for hundreds of years and the delicious and subtly flavored cashew is one of the most eaten nuts today. The cashew nut, in fact, is seeds that hang from the bottom of the cashew fruit, also called the cashew apple.

While the pear-shaped apple is considered to be a delicacy in Brazil and the Caribbean, it is not sold anywhere in the U.S. since the apple rots within 24 hours after being picked off the tree and therefore typically solely enjoyed by those who grow it.

The cashew tree is an evergreen tree, closely related to the mango or pistachio, which averages roughly 32 feet in height which is easily recognizable due to its short and oddly shaped trunk.

Cashews are very commonly eaten raw or roasted and are often sold or prepared lightly salted, sugared, or covered in chocolate.

Cashews are often used in preparation for many Indian dishes and the juice from the cashew apple has been used in production for some alcoholic beverages.