Cashew nuts have been known as nutritious nuts, favored by many people all over the world. However, only good quality cashews bring high nutritional efficiency. Currently, on the market, there are many types of cashew nuts with different characteristics. Most customers don’t know how to distinguish them. Therefore, in this post, Vihaba will give you the AFI STANDARD – Specifications for Cashew Kernels
Specifications for Cashew Kernels
- Quality and Grading
Cashew kernels are classified as: First Quality Fancy; Second Quality Scorched; Lightly Blemished Wholes (LBW), Blemished Wholes (BW), Third Quality Special Scorched; Fourth Quality; and Dessert.
FIRST QUALITY FANCY cashew kernels have a uniform color which may be white, light yellow, or pale ivory.
SECOND QUALITY SCORCHED cashew kernels may be yellow, light brown, light ivory, light ash-grey, or deep ivory.
THIRD QUALITY SPECIAL SCORCHED cashew kernels may be deep yellow, brown, amber, and light to deep blue. They may be slightly shriveled, immature, light-brown speckled, blemished, or otherwise discolored.
FOURTH QUALITY cashew kernels would qualify as First or Second Quality, except that they have pitted spots.
Lightly Blemished Wholes (LBW) cashew kernels may be light brown, light ivory, light ash-grey, or deep ivory. Kernels may show light brown speckles or blemishes on the surface, provided that not more than 40 percent of the kernels are affected.
Lightly Blemished Pieces (LP) cashew pieces may be light brown, light ivory, light ash-grey, or deep ivory. Pieces may show light brown speckles or blemishes on the surface, provided that not more than 20 percent of the pieces are affected.
Blemished Wholes (BW) cashew kernels may be deep yellow, brown, amber, or light to deep blue. Kernels may be slightly shriveled, immature, or maybe brown speckled or blemished on the surface, provided that not more than 60 percent of the kernels are affected.
DESSERT cashew kernels may be scrapped, deeply scorched, shriveled, deep-brown-speckled, black-speckled, blemished, or otherwise discolored.
2. Sizing
Sizing is compulsory in first quality/fancy cashew kernels but is optional for other whole grades.
Size Tolerance: Whole kernels of a lower size grade shall not exceed 10% by weight.
The number of broken kernels or pieces in whole kernels shall not exceed 10% by weight.
The number of pieces present in butts and splits shall not exceed 10% by weight.
The quantity of the next lower size grade in pieces shall not exceed 5% by weight.
Whole (W)
A cashew kernel is classified as a whole if it has the characteristic shape of a cashew kernel and not more than 1/8th of the kernel has been broken off. This grade may also be designated as W. An excessive number of 7/8th kernels or splits that detract from the appearance of the sampled lot may be the basis for the claim.
Butts (B)
Kernels that have been broken crosswise, are less than 7/8 but not less than 3/8 of a whole kernel, and the cotyledons are still naturally attached. This grade may also be designated as B.
Splits (S)
One half of a cashew kernel that has been split lengthwise provided not more than 1/8 of this cotyledon has been broken off. This grade may also be designated as S.
4 Main category of cashew kernel Grades
- Whole cashew kernel grades category
In the cashew nut classification system, the more advanced nuts are, the bigger they are, the tastier they taste, the more nutrients in the nut, the greater valued. So, the w180 white cashew kernel is the best type of most loved cashew, highest value, very expensive. They are large, beautiful, white, whole-grain cashew that has between 140 and 180 nuts/pound (266 – 395 beans/kg) and is known internationally as the King of Cashew
Cashew nut w210 grade is a large, beautiful, white, whole-grain cashew that has between 180 and 210 nuts/pound (395 – 465 beans/kg) and is known internationally as Jumbo Cashew Nuts. They are the 2nd standard of cashew nuts of the standards used to classify cashews
Cashew nut ww240 grade is a large, beautiful, white, whole-grain cashew that has between 220 and 240 nuts/pound (395 – 465 beans/kg) and is known internationally as Premium Large Nuts. They are the 3rd standard of cashew nuts of the standards used to classify cashews
Cashew nut w320 grade is high quality, regular-size, non-damaged and non-split and white, popular whole cashew that would produce between 300 – 320 pieces per pound (453.59g) – (about 660 – 706 pieces per kg) and is known internationally as Standard Large Nuts.
Cashew nut ww450 grade is a small, white, whole-grain cashew that has between 400 and 450 nuts/pound (880 – 990 beans/kg) and is known internationally as Standard Nuts. They are the 5th standard of cashew nuts of the standards used to classify cashews.
2. Broken cashew kernel Grades category
| Broken Cashew Kernels Grade | Detail – Nut kernels |
| LWP | Large White/pale ivory/light ash Pieces of Cashew Kernels |
| SWP | Small White/pale ivory/light ash Pieces of Cashew Kernels |
| WB | White/pale ivory/light ash Broken in crosswise of Cashew Kernels |
| WS | White/pale ivory/light ash Split naturally in lengthwise of Cashew Kernels |
| SB | Yellow/Light brown/Light Ivory/Light ash-grey/Deep ivory broken in crosswise of Cashew Kernels |
| SS | Yellow/Light brown/Light Ivory/Light ash-grey/Deep ivory Split naturally in lengthwise of Cashew Kernels |
| SP | Small Pieces of Cashew Kernels |
| BB | Plemules and broken Kernels smaller than those described |
3. Scorched whole cashew kernel grades category
| Scorched Whole Cashew Kernels Grade | Count per kg |
Count per pound |
| SW-180 | 266 – 395 nuts | 140 – 180 nuts |
| SW-210 | 395 – 465 nuts | 180 – 210 nuts |
| SW-240 | 485 – 530 nuts | 220-240 nuts |
| SW-320 | 660 – 706 nuts | 300 – 320 nuts |
| SW-450 | 880 – 990 nuts | 400 – 450 nuts |
| SW-500 | 1022-1120 nuts | 460-500 nuts |
4. Desert wholes cashew kernel grades category
| Broken Cashew Kernels Grade | Detail |
| DW1 | Deep yellow, brown, amber, or light to deep blue. Kernels may be slightly shriveled, immature, or maybe brown speckled or blemished on the surface, provided that not more than 60 percent of the kernels are affected |
| DW2 | Kernels may be over scorched, dark yellow, light blue, dark blue, 60% rate on the surface |
| DW3 | dark brown, blue, more than 60% rate on the surface |
| SK1 | Black, brown, or other colored spots in aggregate over 1 mm caused by the pre-harvest attack on the kernel, at least 1 colored spot or 2 light spots appear on the outer surface of the kernels |
| SK2 | Black, brown, or other colored spots in aggregate over 1 mm caused by the pre-harvest attack on the kernel, at least 2 colored spots or 3 light spots |
| SK3 | Black, brown, or other colored spots in aggregate over 1 mm caused by the pre-harvest attack on the kernel, at least 3 colored spots or 4 light spots |
With the above classification standards of cashew nuts, Vihaba hopes you will have an overview of the types of cashew nuts. Besides, our company – Vihaba would like to be one of the leading companies in providing the best quality cashew nuts to international customers.