🥔🐿️ NATIONAL CASHEW DAY | Nov 23

[KellytheBelly]

A favorite snacking and party nut is recognized each year on November 23rd during National Cashew Day.

The cashew nut is a seed harvested from the cashew tree. The tree originated in Northeastern Brazil. However, it is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew apples and nuts.

With leathery leaves arranged spirally, the evergreen cashew tree grows as tall as 32 feet high and often has an irregularly shaped trunk. The flowers are small, starting out pale green then turning reddish, with each one having five slender, acute petals.

The largest cashew tree in the world covers about 81,000 sq. ft. and is located in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Cashew Facts

🥔🐿️  The cashew tree has a fruit called the “cashew apple.” Its fragile skin makes it unsuitable for transport.

🥔🐿️  Latin Americans make a fruit drink from the cashew apple.

🥔🐿️  The Cashew causes fewer allergic reactions than other nuts or peanuts.

🥔🐿️  Although native to northeast Brazil, the Portuguese took the cashew plant to Goa, India, between 1560 and 1565. From Goa, it spread throughout Southeast Asia and, eventually, Africa.

🥔🐿️  We often see peanuts, pecans, walnuts, and other nuts sold in the shell. Due to the toxic nature of the cashew nut's shell, this is not possible.

🥔🐿️  Speaking of the shell, the Cashew is not a true nut. They do not develop a hard wall around the seed as hazelnuts or walnuts do. Cashews instead have a lining around the seed that is filled with a caustic fluid.

🥔🐿️  This nut is an excellent source of antioxidants.

🥔🐿️  Cashew oil is a dark yellow oil for cooking or salad dressing pressed from cashew nuts.

🥔🐿️  Many parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.

There are so many ways to enjoy this fabulous nut.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Cashews inspire several ways to celebrate. You can begin by breaking out the cookbook. Whether you make cookies, bars or another baked good, you won't go wrong. You can also top your salads and soups with cashews. But that's only the beginning. May we suggest these other ideas to help you celebrate the day?

🥔🐿️  Bundle up cashews to give as gifts for the holidays. Friends and family will thank you.

🥔🐿️  Top your pasta dishes with chopped cashews. They will add texture and crunch to your meal.

🥔🐿️  Roast cashews with a variety of seasonings. You can make them savory or sweet, whichever you prefer.

🥔🐿️  Add chopped cashews to your ice cream sundae. Drizzle a little caramel on top and you will think you're dreaming.

NATIONAL CASHEW DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this snack food holiday.

Cashew FAQ

Q. How long do cashew trees live?
A. On average, a cashew tree can live up to 60 years, but some live even longer. According to Guinness World Records, the world's largest cashew tree is estimated to be over 100 years old.

Q. How many years does it take for cashew trees to reach maturity and begin producing nuts?
A. A cashew tree begins producing around three years after its planted, but peak, harvestable production may take up to 8 years.

Q. Can you make milk from cashews?
A. Those with lactose intolerance, milk allergies, or are vegetarian or vegan rely on nut milk for nutrition. Some people prefer the flavor, too. Cashew milk is another option to add to the growing list of available nut and grain milks out there. You can even make it at home. [source: National Day Calendar]

Other Cashew Information:

✨  Cashew   [WIKI]

Cashews are technically a drupe, a type of fruit with a hard seed at its center, and are not legumes. However, they are often classified as nuts because they have similar nutritional and culinary properties to other nuts.

How they grow

Cashews grow on the cashew tree, where they develop into large green seeds that hang from the bottom of a fruit called the cashew apple.

Cashew apple contains good amounts of vitamin C, sugars (fructose and sucrose), fibers, flavonoids, carotenoids, total polyphenols, volatile components, flavanols, amino acids, and minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, and iron, which are good for maintaining strong immunity, scavenging free radicals, neuropathic functioning, cardiac functioning, and maintenance of body and skin integrity. Cashew apple is associated with weight loss, and is good for diabetic patients due to its high content of flavonoids (myricetin and quercetin). Consumption of cashew apple and its value-added products confer good health, therapeutic effects in the management of diabetics and cardiovascular diseases, and also ensure food and nutrition security. 

Shell

Cashews grow a hard shell around them, rather than creating pods like legumes.

Nutritional value

Cashews are rich in protein and healthy fats, and can be used in similar ways to other nuts in cooking.

Allergy risk

People who are allergic to other tree nuts or legumes have a higher risk of being allergic to cashews.

Handling

The hard shell of a cashew contains an oil called urushiol, which can cause blisters or burns. Cashews should be handled carefully and professionally.

Other foods that are technically drupes, but are often considered nuts, include almonds, pistachios, pecans, and walnuts. [AI Online]

Cashew Species Guide
[source: cashewcoast]

Anacardium occidentale

The cashew tree, scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale, is a tropical and subtropical evergreen tree belonging to the family Anacardiaceae.

Native to northeastern Brazil, this species has gained global recognition for its valuable edible seeds, commonly called cashew nuts, and its unique accessory fruit, the cashew apple.  [source: cashewcoast]

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If you should begin to fall, I will cashew. So, don't let me cashew falling!
     〵(⌒˽⌒)〴 〵(⌒˽⌒)〴 〵(⌒˽⌒)〴 〵(⌒˽⌒)〴 〵(⌒˽⌒)〴