Sub-Product

The cashew fruit, which contains the seed or ‘nut,’ hangs at the end of what is referred to as the cashew ‘apple’ – the edible swollen fruit stem or pedicel. The fruit itself is kidney-shaped, about the size of a large bean, and has a two-layered shell. The outer layer of this shell contains a caustic oil that must be burned off before the nut is touched. The nuts are then roasted again or boiled to remove other toxic substances and the second shell is removed. The nuts may also be used as a source of oil.