Cashew (I say, cashew)

The word "cashew" refers to one of the evergreen trees that grow in countries with a warm climate, and the fruits of this tree. It comes from the English word cashew and Portuguese caju. In the literature it is found under the names Anacardium western, Indian walnut and acajou.

The Latin name known to the whole world sounds like "Anacardium occidentale", however, in the works of scientists of many peoples, you can find other equivalent names of this plant:

• In the writings of the German botanist and physician Josef Gaertner - Acajuba occidentalis.
• In the works of Adolfo Ducque, a Brazilian botanist and entomologist, as Anacardium microcarpum.
• The French naturalist Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet Lamarck has Cassuvium pomiferum.
• Like Cassuvium reniforme - in the writings of the Spanish monk and botanist Francisco Manuel Blanco.
• And like Cassuvium solitarium - in Jonathan Stokes, a British botanist.

This type of plant belongs to the genus Anacardium, to the Sumac family or Anacardiaceae. Cashews are native to Brazil.

From the point of view of botany, cashews are seeds (fruits), but in terms of their properties and composition, they are nuts.

Western Anacardium is an evergreen tropical plant, a close relative of the pistachio.

Cashew trunks are curved, reaching a height of 10-12 meters.

The crown is dense and wide-spread. In diameter reaches about 10-12 meters.The branches are short and low.

The alternately arranged leaves are oval in shape and have entire margins. The skin of the leaves is dense, impenetrable, which prevents the rapid evaporation of water from the leaves. The leaves are leathery, elliptical in shape. There are up to 20 cm in length and up to 10 cm in width.

The flowers are five-petalled, narrow, pointed at the end. Reach 7-15 mm in length. Most often they are pink. Collected in the form of a panicle.

The plant has an interesting fruit shape, because. consists of two parts:

• fruit in the form of a curved drupe (hard shell), inside which is an oily seed up to 3 cm long and up to 2 cm wide.
• a large fleshy pear-shaped formation (false fruit, hypocarium), which is also edible. Their length is 5-11 cm. Inside they are very soft and juicy. Quite edible, have a sour taste.

The following video clearly shows this fruit with a pear-shaped base.

The acajou fruit is called the "cashew apple" and the "cashew nuts" formed at the ends of these apples. Apples are not the true fruit of the tree.

Ripe apples are yellow and bright pink. They are not transportable, so you can only try where it grows directly. As for the nuts, they have a hooked comma-like shape and have a shell.

They are first fried and only then manually separated from the shell and skin. This is probably why the price of cashews is quite high.

Anacardi trees have a powerful root system, thanks to which they can live up to 100 years.

The official website of The Plant List presents 20 species of the Anacardium genus.The most popular among them is the Anacardium western or Cashew tree we are considering.

Brazil is considered to be the native land for cashews. It was there that they began to cultivate it artificially. Today it is grown in 32 countries of the world, where the climate is hot and relatively humid.

Thus, western anacardium today can be found:

• in India;
• in Thailand;
• in Azerbaijan;
• in Iran;
• in Indonesia;
• in West African countries;
• in Vietnam;
• in the homeland of anacardium and in other countries of South America.

The collection of fruits is carried out only after their full ripening in several stages:

1. Nuts are removed with apples.
2. Separate from them.
3. To neutralize the poisonous oil (phenolic resin), they are first fried.
4. Then they are cleaned of the shell and thin shell.

Acajou kernels are consumed both raw and fried. You need to store them:

1. In a dry tightly closed container in a cold room for 30 days.
2. Frozen in the freezer, where they can lie for 12 months.
3. Just in the fridge for a few months.

About 35.1 thousand km² of land are occupied by cashew trees. According to the FAO, 2.7 million tons of cashew nuts are produced every year in the world.

Below are the 10 largest manufacturers, which at the same time are the main suppliers of this amazing nut all over the world:

1. Vietnam - 958 thousand tons.
2. Nigeria - 581 thousand tons.
3. India - 695 thousand tons.
4. Côte d'Ivoire - 246 thousand tons.
5. Brazil - 220 thousand tons.
6. Indonesia - 145 thousand tons.
7. Philippines - 112 thousand tons.
8. Tanzania - 79 thousand tons.
9. Mozambique - 68 thousand tons.
10. Guinea-Bissau - 65 thousand tons.

Acajou nuts are a very tasty, healthy and valuable product. In salted and fried form, they become a high-calorie product. Despite this, they are still much healthier than the same chips and popcorn.

Cashews are also sold crushed, inside chocolate or honey.

It is better to buy whole cashews, as they can be stored longer. Today, this can be done easily and in many ways:

1. Buy in stores, shopping centers, super and hypermarkets.
2. Order on the websites of online stores.

1. Cashews contain less fat than other nuts.
2. Fried kernels have a pleasant sweet taste.
3. The chemical elements contained in the composition are capable of destroying oral bacteria.
4. Acajou nuts are a low allergenic product.
5. Anacardium seed oil is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid with a specific odor.

The energy value of cashew nuts is about 600 kcal per 100 grams of product.

In their composition:

• 18.22 gr. proteins;
• 43.85 gr. fats;
• 30.19 gr. carbohydrates;
• 5.91 gr. disaccharides.

Nuts include:

• Fats - up to 48%;
• Proteins - up to 21%;
• Carbohydrates - up to 30%.

The chemical composition of acajou nuts is represented by a whole set of useful chemical elements:

• Vitamins: C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, E, K, PP and carotene.
• Minerals: magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, sodium, manganese, copper, selenium
• Antioxidants.
• Alimentary fiber.
• Phytosterols.
• Organic acids and amino acids (including essential ones: methionine, tryptophan, lysine, glycine).

Especially a lot in the composition of magnesium (270 mg%).Therefore, it is an excellent product for hypertensive patients, diabetics and core patients. These nuts are also desirable for the elderly.

Acajou oil has the following beneficial properties:

• Antiseptic;
• Tonic;
• Antioxidant;
• Antibacterial;
• Antimicrobial;
• Antidote;
• Antidysenteric;
• Nutritious;
• Painkillers;
• Skin softening.

They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which:

• give energy,
• have a beneficial effect on the heart, blood vessels and brain,
• increase immunity,
• prevent the development of malignant diseases.

Watch the video of the program "About the most important" - find out why some scientists call the cashew nut "the food of the future."

The benefits of nuts are obvious.

Due to their medicinal properties, they are used in medicine for the treatment and prevention of many diseases:

• Eating small amounts of cashew nuts regularly will provide your body with the nutrients it needs.
• The fruits are known to kill oral bacteria. African healers used this property of cashews. It was they who crushed the nuts for the treatment of sick teeth. And recent studies by Japanese experts have confirmed this feature of akazhu nuts.
• Tocopherols contained in Indian nuts have a beneficial effect on the reproductive function of the female and male body. This allows them to be used as an aphrodisiac.
• Improves metabolic processes in the body.
• Prevents the occurrence of skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.
• Treats warts, wounds, dermatitis and cracks. To do this, boil the shells akazhu.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Regular consumption lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• In the homeland of Anacardium, with the help of its fruits, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma were treated.
• Indian walnut is useful for normal heart function and vascular health. It is recommended in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal diseases and even dysentery.
• Recommended by nutritionists for anemia, exhaustion.
• Since ancient times, the inhabitants of India have used a decoction of the shell of the nuts as an antidote for snake bites.

In addition, they have the following properties:

• Antipyretic property and a strong tonic effect. They help to restore strength after serious illnesses and operations.
• In addition, they lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and help with depression.
• They strengthen bones and teeth.
• Useful in diseases of the joints and back.
• Used in diets for the treatment of obesity.

Helps with psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, cracked heels, etc.

Lubricate problem areas with cashew oil 1-2 times a day or apply lotions for 15 minutes. Treat until you recover.

The same recipe can be taken when foliating nails.

For 2 parts ground nuts, take 1 part honey. Mix everything and apply for toothache and various inflammations of the gums.

It is indicated in the treatment of the above diseases and for the prevention of malignant neoplasms.

30 gr. grind nuts in a mortar, gradually adding 100 ml. boiled water.

Take this "milk" in the morning on an empty stomach 30 minutes before meals for a month.

In a mortar, grind 1 tbsp. cashew nuts and rub it into the scalp at night. The duration of the course is a month.

Rub cashew oil into the scalp, cover with a bathing cap. Wrap the towel and leave for 1 hour. Rinse with shampoo.

The procedure is carried out every day or every other day, depending on how often you usually wash your hair, for 1 month.

Every day for 1 month, eat 10-15 nuts a day or replace them with 2 tbsp. cashew butter per day (with salads, porridge, etc.).

For people looking to lose weight, nuts can replace very high-calorie foods. Despite the fact that nuts are not the most high-calorie product, they saturate the body well and satisfy hunger. Therefore, they can be safely added to salads, vegetable and rice dishes.

Side effects of "cashew overdose" appear in the form of:

• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• in the form of a rash and itching on the skin.

Toxic substances contained between the shell and the thin shell of the kernel (phenolic resin, anacardic acid, cardol) can cause irreparable harm to the body:

• Contact with skin may cause burns.
• If swallowed, it can lead to a severe allergic reaction, suffocation and swelling of the larynx.

Nuts seem to be contraindicated only for people with individual intolerance and allergies. No other contraindications have been identified.

But they can be used with great caution in people with liver disease.

With caution, give them to children and pregnant women, because. they can cause allergies.

Cashew oil is extracted from its seeds. It contains many vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, different types of fatty acids, glycerides and other useful chemical elements. Its qualities are close to olive.

Unlike nuts, it is a higher-calorie product: 100 grams of oil contains 700 kilocalories.

Has a wide application:

• Used to lower cholesterol levels in atherosclerosis.
• Used to treat the stomach, intestines, cardiovascular system, rheumatism, arthritis and arthrosis
• In pharmaceuticals, it is added to the composition of many drugs for toothache, rheumatism, eczema, respiratory diseases, diabetes, hypertension and impotence.
• Used as a base for the preparation of massage oil.
• Due to its anti-aging and softening properties, it is actively used in industrial and home cosmetology.
• Mexicans use the oil to lighten freckles.
• Inhabitants of Venezuela with inflammation of the throat smear the throat with oil.
• In Haiti, cashew oil is used to treat warts and toothache.
• Cashew oil is also antibacterial, especially against harmful oral bacteria.
• Ancient African healers used acajou oil with the addition of honey to treat diseases of the teeth and gums.
• The oil is widely used in aromatherapy.

From pear-like fruits I say they squeeze juice. They like to drink such juice in countries where they grow Anacardium western. So, for example, in South American countries, it enjoys the same fame as orange juice around the world.

For culinary purposes, they use apples, nuts, and cajou oil. Apples seem to spoil quickly. Therefore, eating fresh cashew apples and cooking dishes with them is possible only in countries where anacardium is cultivated.

Residents of these states cook with apples akazhu:

• preserves and jams;
• compotes;
• alcoholic drinks;
• jelly.
• In India, acajou apples are used to make chutney;
• in Latin America, the drink "cajina";
• in Goa - liquor "fenny".

Cashew nuts are added during cooking:

• First and second courses.
• Saladov.
• Sauces.
• desserts.
• Confectionery.

To enhance the flavor, the nut kernels are lightly fried in oil.

Consider several recipes for using Indian nuts in cooking, salads and desserts.

• Rice - 1 cup.
• I will say nuts - 50 grams.
• Water - 750 ml.
• Lemon - half.
• Turmeric - 1 teaspoon.
• Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon.
• Olive oil - 1 teaspoon.
• Sea salt.
• Mint.

Pour the boiled water over the rice. Add some salt and turmeric. Cook rice until tender. Heat up a frying pan with oil and fry the nuts in it. Add mustard seeds and fry them too. Then combine boiled rice with roasted nuts and seeds. Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon. Pour them rice. Sprinkle with mint and serve the dish to the table.

Recipe for Salad with Brie and Indian Nuts

• Tomatoes - 1 pc.
• Pear - 1 pc.
• Cashew - 50 gr.
• Lemon - 1 pc.
• Salad - 1 bunch.
• Arugula - 1 bunch.
• Brie cheese - 125 gr.
• Olive oil - 6 tbsp. l.
• Honey - 1 tsp
• Balsamic vinegar - 1 tsp
• Salt.
• Ground pepper.

First prepare the dressing. To do this, squeeze the juice from a lemon and mix 1 teaspoon with honey. Add vinegar and olive oil. Put salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Take a small bowl, chop the salad in it with your hands. Add arugula and drizzle with dressing. Divide into small portions on plates. Cut the pear into thin plates, sprinkle with lemon juice. Cut the tomato into slices, and the cheese into cubes. Roast cashew nuts, break into halves. Put the pear on the greens first, then the tomato. Sprinkle with cheese and nuts. Plates can be decorated with drops of vinegar.

Watch the following video - learn about the benefits of cashews.

Melt 200 grams of butter and cook until bubbles appear. While stirring, add 200 grams of sugar.

When bubbles appear, add 200 grams of sour cream. There should be foam. Remove from heat and add 15 grams of vanilla sugar. Whisk.

Add 400 grams of dry milk. Beat until a thick mass is formed. Pour the dough into a mold and sprinkle about 200 grams of cashew nuts on top. Press lightly on the nuts so that they enter the dough a little.

Put in the refrigerator for an hour. Serve at the table, cut into pieces.

As in medicine, cashew properties are widely used in cosmetology. Cashew oil is added to various creams and masks for hair, face and body skin.

It has amazing properties:

• Rejuvenates the skin.
• Improves complexion.
• Eliminates fine wrinkles and prevents their new appearance.
• Promotes the healing of cracks and calluses on the legs.
• Moisturizes and cares for the skin of the hands.
• Eliminates brittle nails and improves their growth.
• Eliminates itching on the scalp (effective mixture with jojoba oil).
• Eliminates hair loss and strengthens them.

Long exposure to the sun can cause redness on the skin of the face. They can be removed with cashew, geranium, lavender or rose oil. To do this, put 1 tablespoon of cashew oil with a few drops of oil from the rest of the plants. Apply to problem areas of the skin and leave for a while.

Body massage can be done either with pure cashew oil or mixed with other oils. It suits all skin types. You can mix apricot, almond, peach and grape seeds.

To improve the effect of creams, tonics, lotions, you can add cashew oil to them. For 100 ml of shampoo or hair conditioner, add 10 ml of cashew oil.

1. In Brazil, cashew seed oil is an aphrodisiac.
2. Gum is extracted from the trunks of cashews.
3. Wood impregnated with cashew oil from the shell prevents rotting.
4. Cashews are added to vegetables, meats, salads, drinks, and desserts.
5. Widely used in cosmetology and medicine.
6. South American Indians have long used the cashew tree not only in cooking and medicine, but also in construction, in the manufacture of various items. At the same time, not only fruits, but trunks, roots and leaves of trees were used.
7. It is used as an intoxicant in tattooing in Africa.
8. The cashew shell is used in mechanical engineering for the manufacture of brake pads and their linings, pharmaceuticals and in shipbuilding for the manufacture of water-repellent coatings.

For lovers of exotic cashew trees is a godsend. In care, it is unpretentious, but requires the provision of conditions similar to a tropical climate.

Stages and rules for planting and growing Anacardium western:

• Planting cashews is carried out by seeds.
• Open ground is not suitable for this tree, so you need to plant in containers and pots.
• At zero temperature, the plant dies, so it is important to provide a high temperature in the room where the cashew tree will be.
• Seeds must be wetted before planting. Change water 2 times a day.
• Prepare pots for the plant in advance. The soil should be of a light consistency so that moisture does not linger in it.
• After two days, plant seeds in pots.
• After 2-3 weeks, the first sprouts should appear.
• Pots with cashews should be placed in places under the sun.
• Spray frequently to provide the necessary moisture.
• This can also be achieved with pebbles. To do this, fill the trays with pebbles and keep a small level of water in them.
• You can fertilize with ordinary universal fertilizers that are suitable for other indoor plants.
• In the first years of life, after the branches appear, cut the crown regularly. This will give the correct shape to the tree.
• This fast-growing tree will delight you with its fruits in the second year.

• The Ticuna Indian tribe, which still lives within today's Brazil, has long used the fruits, roots, trunks, and leaves of cashew trees for food, cures disease, builds huts, and so on. It was from them that the exotic name of the nuts acaju-kazhu, which means "yellow fruit", and from which the Portuguese name caju was formed - kazhu, meaning "fruits" was formed. "The tree itself" in Portuguese sounded like cajueiro, which later gave rise to the English name cashew, which sounds like a cashew. However, the Venezuelans call them merey, and the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of neighboring countries marañón in honor of the eponymous state of Maranhao, where these trees were found.
• In Africa, cashews are also used as a tattoo medium.
• Brazilians use it as an aphrodisiac.