Cashew nuts or Kaju are technically not nuts but seeds. The scientific name of cashew nuts is Anacardium occidentale L., which belongs to the family Anacardiaceous. It is a popular ingredient in various Indian dishes and dairy alternatives like cream and cashew milk. They have a rich nutty flavor.

Cashew nuts grow on evergreen trees, native to Brazil, which later expanded to South American countries. The Portuguese introduced cashew nuts in India and Africa in the 16th century. A single-seeded nut in a hard grey shell grows at the bottom of the cashew apple (a soft and juicy fruit). There are 33 varieties of cashew nuts identified, out of which only 26 varieties are marketed.

The W-180 variety is known as the “king of cashews”. As for the nutritional composition, cashew nuts are rich in tocopherols, phytosterols, phenolic lipids and several bioactive compounds, all of which have several benefits on human health. Let us find more exciting facts about cashew nuts.