What do they do with the cashew apple?

The mature cashew apple can be eaten fresh, cooked in curries, or fermented into vinegar, as well as an alcoholic drink. It is also used to make preserves, chutneys, and jams in some countries such as India and Brazil.

Is the Apple part of the cashew edible?

Mature cashew trees grow red or yellow pear-shaped drupes called cashew apples. The cashew apples, which are edible but highly perishable, are collected. The cashew nuts, still in their shell, are removed from the ends of the fruits and may be dried in the sun, depending on the manufacturer’s process.

What are cashew fruits used for?

The resin within the shells of the fruit is used as an insecticide and in the production of plastics; it also is important in traditional medicines. The cashew apple is used locally in beverages, jams, and jellies, though most cultivation is directed toward production of the valuable seed crop.

How does a cashew apple taste?

What does a cashew apple taste like? The taste has been characterized as a mix between front-of-the-mouth sweet with a touch of sour, similar to an apple. The smell is typical of the fruit: sweet, juicy, and fruity.

How are cashews made edible?

Cashew shells contain anacardic acid, which can cause allergies and irritation similar to poison ivy. Once the nuts are removed from their shells, they are steamed or roasted to remove any poisonous residue. After that, they’re finally ready to enjoy.

How does the cashew apple taste?

Are cashew apples poisonous?

The cashew seed is double-wrapped in a toxic, kidney shaped shell that protrudes from a pseudo-fruit known as a cashew apple. The reddish, pear-shaped cashew apple is an edible sweet fruit. It is too delicate for transport and thus cannot be found in markets.

Is the fruit part of a cashew edible?

The false fruit attached to the false nut looks like a pear with a little boxing glove hanging off the bottom. The false fruit (called cashew fruit or cashew apple) is edible, but it is very perishable. It is often left to rot, but can be eaten raw, cooked, or used to make a liquor called feni.

What is the fruit that cashews come from?

Cashews come from a tropical tree formally known as Anacardium occidentale ( 1 ). The tree produces a fleshy, pear-shaped stalk called a cashew apple on its branches.

What part of a cashew is poisonous?

urushiol
It is the case that the double shell surrounding the raw cashew, which is technically a seed and not a nut, contains urushiol, a resin that can create significant skin rashes, and can be toxic when ingested.

How long does it take for cashew to bear fruit?

Cashew needs a climate with a well-defined dry season of at least four months to produce the best yields. Coincidence of excessive rainfall and high relative humidity with flowering may result in flower/fruit drop and heavy incidence of fungal diseases.

What is a cashew apple?

The fruit, called a cashew apple, isn’t really a fruit at all, but is actually the swollen end of the stem just above the cashew nut. Each apple is paired with a single nut, and the visual effect is pretty bizarre. The apples and nuts will form in the winter or dry season.

How do you know when cashews are ready to harvest?

Wait to harvest the cashews until the apples begin to fall off the tree. The cashew nut is attached to the end of a bell pepper shaped fruit called the cashew apple. The cashew apple will turn from green to yellow, pink, or red, and the nut will become a dull grey, when starting to reach maturity.

How do you separate cashew nuts from an apple?

Sort the cashew nuts from the apples into two separate piles. Use string to separate the nuts from the apples for a clean break. Tie a piece of string tight around where the cashew apple and nut meet, which will cleanly split them in two.

What do cashew nuts look like when ripe?

Cashew apples have a thin waxy skin that is smooth and ranges from golden yellow to red once ripe. Each fruit is attached to two shells that encase green, kidney-shaped seeds. These are the raw cashew nuts and should be treated with care.