Cashews are a type of seed that come from the cashew tree, Anacardium occidentale, and have many characteristics, including:
- Appearance: Cashews are kidney- or heart-shaped nuts with a two-layered shell. The outer layer contains a caustic oil that must be burned off before handling the nut.
- Taste: Cashews have a soft consistency and a sweet flavor.
- Nutrition: Cashews are a good source of protein, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc.
- Uses: Cashews can be eaten as a snack, used in recipes, or processed into cashew milk, cashew cheese, or cashew butter.
- Origin: Cashews are native to Brazil, but are now cultivated in tropical areas like India and East Africa.
- Tree: The cashew tree is an evergreen tropical tree that can grow up to 46 ft tall. Dwarf cultivars are more profitable because they mature earlier and have greater yields.