Cashew
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Cashew (pronunciation: /ˈkaSHˌo͞o/), is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple. It can grow as high as 14 m (46 ft), but the dwarf cashew, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), has proved more profitable, with earlier maturity and higher yields.
Etymology
The name "cashew" comes from the Portuguese word caju, which itself is derived from the indigenous Tupi name, acaju, meaning "nut that produces itself".
Description
The cashew tree is large and evergreen, growing up to 14 m (46 ft) tall, with a short, often irregularly shaped trunk. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, 4–22 cm (1.6–8.7 in) long and 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) broad, with smooth margins.
Cashew Seed
The cashew seed is often considered a nut in the culinary sense; this cashew nut is eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. Like the tree, the nut is often simply called a cashew.
Cashew Apple
The cashew apple is an accessory fruit (or false fruit) that grows on the cashew seed (which is the true fruit). It is a soft fruit, rich in nutrients, and with a sweet aroma.
Related Terms
- Cashew Allergy: Some people are allergic to cashews, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
- Cashew Oil: Cashew oil is derived from cashew seeds and has various uses in cooking and industry.
- Cashew Nut Shell Liquid: A byproduct of processing cashew, it is often used in industrial applications.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cashew
- Wikipedia's article - Cashew
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