It is the Portuguese who brought the wonder nut "Cashew". The cashew tree slowly but
steadily steamed it roots deep into the whole coastal region bringing new platform to the costal business. Today cashew crop has spread all over
India and considered to be one of the popular crops. As per one survey, Cashew cultivation covers a total area of 0.70 million hectares of land, producing over. 0.40 million M.T. of raw
cashew nuts annually. By the end of the century India has targeted to achieve a production level of over 0.60 million M.T of raw cashew nuts.
Cashew Tree
It is a short, stocky, low-spreading, ever-green tropical tree. It flowers once a year, between the months of November and January. The fruit ripens fully within 2 months. The tree is chiefly important for the nuts it produces, but its wood can be used for a variety of purposes. It's bark releases a thick liquid which can be used as an adhesive.
Cashewnut Fruit
Cashew fruit has a unique flavor, the cashew fruit pulp is a rich source of vitamins C
and other essential nutrients like calcium and iron. It contains up to 5 times more vitamin C than oranges. The fruit is called Cashew Apple. We are all familiar with the Cashew nut that actually grows from the bottom of the Cashew Apple. When they are harvested the pulp are separated from the nuts and made in a very
nutritious juice. Cashew juice is very high in Vitamin C, it has more than 5 times the Vitamin C than orange juice. Just 1 glass of cashew juice meets the daily requirement for an adult.
Cashewnut
The nut, shaped like a large, thick bean, is sometimes more than 2.5
centimeters (one inch) long, and forms in an unusual way. The nuttiest feature of Cashewnut is that it is attached to the lower portion of the cashew apple which looks like a fruit, but in reality it is the enlarged stem of the cashew tree. The Cashewnut can be seen sitting smugly under the soft belly of the cashew' apple. Together, it is one of the fascinating sights of nature.
The Cashewnut seed has within itself a whole kernel and this delicate kernel is covered by a test a membrane and a thick outer shell which effectively protects the tasty kernel from the ravages of nature from the time of harvesting to processing.
In its raw form, the cashew kernel is soft, white and meaty. When roasted it changes colour and taste. The cashew kernel turns from a creamy white into a golden hue and the mellow pulp becomes crisp. Salted, it appeals to the palate as the most delicious nut. |
