Is cashew a fruit or a nut? Have you ever wondered?

“Is cashew a fruit or a nut?” That’s a great question because many people are curious about that. In fact, cashew nuts are one of the most nutrious nuts, flavored by many people all over the world.  Most of us consider cashews to be a type of nut as we are still used to calling them “cashew nuts”. However, the truth is not like that. Keep reading this post, you will find the answer to your own.

What is a nut?

To help us understand “is cashew a fruit or a nut?”, it is important to know what the definition of a true “nut” is. A nut is a fruit consisting of a hard or tough nutshell protecting a kernel which is usually edible. In general usage and in a culinary sense, a wide variety of dry seeds are called nuts, but in a botanical context “nut” implies that the shell does not open to release the seed

Most seeds come from fruits that naturally free themselves from the shell, but this is not the case in nuts such as hazelnuts, chestnuts, and acorns, which have hard shell walls and originate from a compound ovary. The general and original usage of the term is less restrictive, and many nuts (in the culinary sense), such as almonds, pecans, pistachios, walnuts are not nuts in a botanical sense. Common usage of the term often refers to any hard-walled, edible kernel as a nut. Nuts are an energy-dense and nutrient-rich food source.

In a more mainstream version, the nut is often defined as the dry, one-seeded fruit coming from various trees or bushes. It is edible but may require cooking to get there in some cases. Nuts also come in a shell, which is usually hard, woody, tough, or leathery. The kernel in the middle of these shells is called the meat or the nut.

Is cashew a nut?

Technically, cashews are not nuts, but they’re often classified as such. That’s because they share many nutritional and culinary attributes with other true nuts like hazelnuts and chestnuts. Cashews are rich in healthy fats and protein and may be used interchangeably with other nuts in a variety of culinary applications, including trail mix, stir-fries, granola, and nut butter

Like most nuts, cashews may also help improve overall health. They’ve been linked to benefits like weight loss by boosting metabolism, improving blood sugar control, strengthening the immune system, and contributing to heart health. Cashews are not really nuts in the true sense, but rather a drupe seed.

Cashews, not really a nut. Is cashew a fruit?

Actually, cashew is a fruit. To be specific, the cashews you might get in a pack of assorted nuts are the seeds of the cashew apple. The fruits grow on trees native to Brazil, but early explorers spread them all over the world. Today, cashew trees grow in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Cashews grow on fruit-producing trees which produce a ‘false fruit’ known as the cashew apple.  The fruit resembles a small bell pepper being yellow to red in color.  At the base of the fruit is a kidney-bean-shaped hardshell with a single seed inside–the cashew nut.

The cashew nuts we see in the market are actually the edible seeds of the cashew fruit. It’s kind of like buying apple seeds because those are the only edible part. Attached to the end of that ‘fruit’ is the actual, true cashew fruit – what we call the cashew nut. Only it’s the seed, with its casing. The casing cannot be eaten so it’s always removed before it reaches the store.

What about the cashew apple?

The cashew apple, also called cashew fruit, is the fleshy stem of the cashew fruit, to which the cashew nut is attached. The top end of the cashew apple is attached to the stem that comes off the tree. The bottom end of the cashew apple attaches to the cashew nut, which is encased in a shell. The cashew nut is the true fruit, and is considered a drupe.

The cashew apple has a sweet flavor but a limited shelf life so it is not a marketable commodity in its fresh state.  However, it is available in local markets and has value as fresh food, cooked in curries, fermented into vinegar, and used to make preserves, chutneys, and jams.  In India, it is fermented and distilled to make an alcoholic drink known as feni.  The apples are also used for medicinal purposes.

The mature cashew apple can be eaten fresh, cooked in curries, or fermented into vinegar, as well as an alcoholic drink. It is also used to make preserves, chutneys, and jams in some countries such as India and Brazil. In many countries, particularly in South America, the cashew apple is used to flavor drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.

With the above useful information, I hope you will know the answer “Is cashew a nut?” Besides, if you want to know more detailed information about cashew products, do not hesitate to check out our catalog on the website at vihaba.global