Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Did you know that Cashew, a nut from the tropical evergreen tree is India’s favourite dry fruit with 170,000-195,000 MT of annual production and ranking first in the world in production, originally native to Northeastern Brazil and Southeastern Venezuela, was brought to India by the Portuguese to Goa in mid 1550s? Cashew, known by the botanical name Anacardium occidentale in the Anacardiaceae family, also called Vrikkaphala in Sanskrit, a product of the tropical evergreen Cashew Tree, is a kidney-shaped seed or nut, one of the most delicious nuts around the world. The versatile cashew tree produces the cashew seed or nut and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The cashew seed is commonly considered a snack nut (cashew nut) eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. Like the tree, the nut is often simply called Cashew. In India, Cashew nuts are used mostly in desserts and traditional preparations to e...