Where do Cashew Nuts come from?

I bet you will never guess where cashew nuts come originate. They grow inside a shell like any other nut, but their true origins are far more bizarre. First of all, cashews are not actually nuts, but rather fruits from the cashew tree, a large evergreen tree that thrives in tropical climates. The tree produces red flowers, which in turn produce yellow and red oval structures resembling apples. These so-called cashew apples are very juicy and pulpy, and their juice is often added to tropical fruit drinks. You may have consumed 'cashew juice' in the past and not even known you had.

Although they are called 'cashew apples', they are not actually fruits in a scientific sense; the real fruit of the cashew tree is the kidney-shaped formation growing at the end. These fruits, also called drupes, are harvested and the kidney-shaped bits becomes what we know as cashew nuts. In the raw form, the outer layer of the fruit contains multiple toxins including anacardic acid, a powerful skin irritant similar to the toxin found in poison ivy. This outer layer will have to be removed prior to eating.

Roasting the cashews destroys the toxins, but even the procedure has to have strict guidelines. The roasting must be performed carefully outdoors because the smoke can irritate the lungs. This is of a serious nature; some individuals have experienced life-threatening experiences from the smoke. When cashews are roasted, they change from their natural greenish-gray color to the light brown nut that we see sold in stores.

Next time you crack open a tin of cashews, take a moment to reflect on the long journey those little nuts took from the tree to eventually your table!

Zeke Samples, IFA, CSN, CPR, IDEA

Surreal Body Solutions, LLC

803.322.7649

www.SurrealBodySolutions.com 

& contributing health and exercise author

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