Surprising Cashew Nuts facts most people don't know

1. Cashews grow on 10 to 15 meter, or 32 to 50 feet, evergreen trees known as cashew trees, which belong to the Anacardiaceae family.


2. In 2010, Nigeria was the top producer of cashew nuts, producing 650,000 tonnes.


3. While in their shell, cashew nuts are surrounded by a toxic oil or resin that’s similar to urushiol called “anacardic acid,” which can burn or irritate the skin. They’re nearly always treated by roasting, boiling or steaming before they’re shelled.


4. Due to the proteins in the nuts, some people are allergic to cashew nuts as they are to other tree nuts. However, some people are allergic to them due to the trace irritants similar to “urushiol,” which is in poison ivy, pistachios and mangos.


5. The starch content of cashew nuts is about 23%, which is a lot higher than most other nuts and makes them suitable for thickening sauces.


6. Cashew nuts are eaten “raw”, which means that they’re generally heat treated, roasted, salted and as a spread, added to main meals like salads.


7. People who have a tendency to get kidney stones or have gallbladder issues may need to avoid or reduce their intake of cashews as they have oxalates, which can make their condition worse.


8. The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney shaped drupe that grows at the end of the cashew apple. The dupe develops first on the tree, and then the pedicel expands to become the cashew apple. Within the tree fruit is a single seed, which is often considered a nut, in the culinary sense.


9. Cashews are very nutritious and are packed with protein and essential minerals including copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.


10. They also have vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Cashews also have a high content of oleic acid, which is an omega 9 fatty acid.