cashew

     

The cashew (Anacarium occidentale; syn. Anacardium curatellifolium A.St.-Hil.) is a tree in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The plant is native to northeastern Brazil. Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acajú. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew "nuts" (see below) and cashew apples.

Trivia about cashew

  • The shell of this kidney-shaped nut is highly toxic
  • Related to poison ivy, this kidney-shaped snack nut is sold without its toxic shell
  • The plant that produces this kidney-shaped nut is related to poison ivy
  • If you want to go nuts, eat this nut native to Brazil and taken to Asia by Portuguese missionaries
  • The Brazilian type of this c-shaped nut is the largest, softest & whitest variety
  • This kidney-shaped nut comes from an evergreen tree, Anacardium occidentale, that may grow to 40 feet in height
  • The shell of this kidney-shaped nut contains a caustic oil (the nut is related to poison ivy)
  • The name of this oily nut native to Brazil may come from a local name, Acajoba