Protruding like a tail from the bottom of an oddly shaped fruit, the cashew, or cashew, in its natural state, has a very strange appearance.

Its Origin

Although many believe it comes from Africa and Asia, this unique nut is native to Brazil; and although it is confused with the Brazil nut, they are very different. The cashew tree produces a long, fleshy stem, called a cashew apple, that looks like a small pear.

Its fruit or “cashew apple” is not good for export because it must be consumed within 24 hours of harvesting, so in countries where this tropical tree is not produced we do not have the opportunity to enjoy this fruit. The fruit is made into syrup, juice or eaten as such.

The nuts are shelled before being marketed as the shell is poisonous. The shells of these are treated to obtain a very valuable caustic liquid called anacardic acid, which is used both in the manufacture of medicines and as an ingredient in resins and other industrial products. But don't worry, cashews are usually dried and roasted, a process that removes the toxic oils from the nut and leaves its shell brittle and easy to remove.

The Benefits

Despite its propensity for poison, the Cashnut is praised for its significant store of nutrients. Along with Brazil nuts and almonds, cashews have the highest magnesium content per serving of any tree nut. And like most nuts, they're also a good source of vitamin E and cancer-fighting phytochemicals.

They are low in carbohydrates, especially compared to other common snacks. This limits their impact on blood sugar, making them an excellent choice for people with type 2 diabetes, as well as those looking to prevent this disease.

They are also a wonderful source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated varieties. These nuts are also a modest source of protein, which is why vegans and vegetarians include them in their diets as an almost essential food.

Cashews are rich in a variety of nutrients. One ounce (28 grams) of these unroasted and unsalted gives us about:

• Calories: 157
• Protein: 5 grams
• Fat: 12 grams
• Carbohydrates: 9 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Copper: 67% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Magnesium: 20% of the DV
• Manganese: 20% of the DV
• Zinc: 15% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 13% of the DV
• Iron: 11% of the DV
• Selenium: 10% of the DV
• Thiamine: 10% of the DV
• Vitamin K: 8% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 7% of the DV

They can even be used to make cream or vegan cheeses with a reduced portion of salts, sugars and unhealthy fats compared to dairy versions; Would you like to know recipes with cashew nuts? Tell us on social networks! And remember that you can find our products at any Walmart, Superama, Bodega Aurrera, H-E-B, laComer and Alsuper as well as at our online store.