Superior Self with KJ Landis/ Cashews: Nut or Seed?

Technically, this is not a nut, but the seed of the cashew apple. Unlike other seeds of fruit, it grows on the outside of the apple, at its lower end. It cannot be eaten in its natural raw state and the "raw" cashews sold in the market have been treated with heat to dissipate the cardol and anacardic acids in them which can burn the mouth and throat. The skins have also been removed.

We love cashew nuts in the USA, but the countries from which they come eat the whole fruit as well. The fruits are too perishable to export because they ripen rather quickly and spoil during transport. The cashew fruit tastes like a cross between a pepper, a mango, and a cucumber. It can be sweet, tart, and always fibrous. Sometimes it has a bitter aftertaste. The fibrous texture lends itself to cooking in sweet and also savory recipes. In Jamaica, it is brewed into a tea or juiced.

​Cashews have magnesium, iron, fat, protein , and carbohydrates. They make a great snack that satiates one for hours.

Try different cashew products on the market like cashew milks, cheeses, and sour cream! They are delicious!

​Blessings,
KJ Landis