Table of content A-Z
cashew nut
Botanical name: Anacardium occidentale
The cashew nut originally came from South America. Today it is widespread in many tropical countries. The main areas of cultivation are Brazil and India, where the cashew nut is known colloquially as 'elephant louse'.
Availability
Cashew nuts are available throughout the year and are sold as whole shelled kernels.
Appearance, taste, characteristics
Botanically, the cashew nut belongs to the stone fruits, or drupes. The approximately 10 m tall tree bears pear-shaped yellow fruits about 10 cm long the so-called cashew apples. From the lower end of each fruit grows a kidney-shaped cashew nut, 23 cm long.
This nut is covered by a hard, green-brown shell that is removed in the country where the cashew is harvested. The shell contains a poisonous substance that is put to use in the lacquer and varnish and the brake-lining industries. For this reason, the cashew nut would be inedible in its raw state. Light roasting of the fruit makes the thin shell crack and easy to remove from the kernel. The light-brown cashew nuts have a fine, mild, slightly sweet taste.
Ingredients
Cashew nuts contain large amounts of the B-vitamins, magnesium and iron.
100 g contain:
|
Cashewnuss, frisch |
Cashewnuss, geröstet |
|
| Energy (kcal) |
568 |
595 |
| Water (g) |
4 |
4 |
| Protein (g) |
18 |
16 |
| Fat (g) |
42 |
48 |
| Carbohydrates (g) (g) |
31 |
25 |
| Fibre (g) |
3 |
3 |
| Vitamin A (RE) (µg) |
10 |
1 |
| Vitamin E (mg) |
0,8 |
1,3 |
| Vitamin B1 (mg) |
0,6 |
0,4 |
| Vitamin B2 (mg) |
0,3 |
0,2 |
| Niacin (mg) |
8 |
7 |
| Folic acid (µg) |
0,4 |
0,3 |
| Vitamin C (mg) |
67 |
68 |
| Potassium (mg) |
552 |
530 |
| Sodium (mg) |
14 |
17 |
| Calcium (mg) |
31 |
41 |
| Magnesium (mg) |
270 |
255 |
| Iron (mg) |
2,8 |
4,1 |
| Saturated fatty acids |
9,4 |
10,7 |
| Mono-unsaturated fatty acids (g) |
27,6 |
31,5 |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (g) |
3,4 |
3,9 |
Quality criteria, optimal storage conditions
When you buy cashew kernels, make sure that they don't smell rancid and don't look shrivelled. It is best to buy them in air-tight containers or bags.
Cashew nuts turn rancid quickly at room temperature, so it is best to store them in the refrigerator.
Form of consumption, use, processing, practical tips for preparation
Cashew nuts are sold in Germany in tins or in bags. Salted and roasted, they are a popular snack.
In addition, they are a component of mueslis, baked goods and desserts. They are also good used in vegetable and meat dishes or in exotic curries.
Cashew nuts are used industrially to produce sweets and edible oil.
Miscellaneous
By the way, the cashew apple is eaten as a fruit in the countries where it is grown. However, it is not suited for transport to other countries as it spoils quickly.
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