History
The cashew tree (Anacardium Western) is a tree that produces a fruit whose kernel is called "cashew" or "apple nut". It is native to South America and especially the northeast of Brazil. It has been exported to the West Indies to an unknown date.
Varieties
The number of varieties is unknown. The cashew apple is a fake fruit. Indeed, it is the result of the evolution of the floral receptacle and not that of the ovary as is the case for fruit in the botanical sense. This is a soft fruit pear-shaped.
Its size varies between 5 and 12 cm. The cashew apple is red or yellow when ripe. It has a fibrous pulp, very juicy but astringent (causing thirst). It leaves a bitter acid taste in the mouth. At the base of the fruit, we want to see a gray shriveled nut with an average size of about 3 cm 1 to 2 cm.
Flowering occurs from December to March and fruiting occurs between February and July.
Health benefits
Physicians recognize that cashews have many medicinal benefits such as the prevention of cancer including colon cancer, the fight against cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, healthy hair, bones and nerves, the prevention of gallstones, weight loss, antioxidants, aid in digestion, sleep, elimination of free radicals, fight against macular degeneration, protecting teeth and gums in particular.
To enjoy all these benefits must be consumed at least once a week.
Uses
Before consumption, cashews must be heated and their hull removed because they contain toxic resins. The nuts are roasted and peeled. It is consumed as an aperitif. The fruit is meanwhile used in jam and juice. The shell is used to produce a toxic oil that serves as a fungicide for wood.
A Desirade (an island in the Guadeloupe archipelago), candied apple in sugar syrup is a specialty, pruneau Désirade. Punch and jam feast big and small.
In Brazil, it is used in the preparation of the caipifruta, a sort of caipirinha replacing the lime.
Attention its juice is reputed to leave indelible stains on clothes.