Can you Eat Cashew Fruit?
Out of habit, many of us are accustomed to considering cashews as a nut. However, the official science of botany, which is used to structure everything, like Carl Linnaeus himself, attributed cashews to fruits. The fact is that the fruit of the cashew plant includes two components: a bright fleshy pedicel (“apple”) and a drupe located on it, outwardly similar to a large comma.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to try this fruit, because due to the high content of tannin, it is stored for no more than a day, and therefore it is not transportable.
The pedicel has a juicy sweet and sour pulp, from which, in countries where cashews grow, juices, jams, preserves, compotes, and even spirits are prepared. In South America, cashew apple juice is more popular than orange juice.
The second part of the cashew fruit, the drupe, on the contrary, tolerates transportation well. It consists of a hard shell, under which a large cream-colored seed is hidden. We call him a nut.
What Does A Cashew Fruit Taste Like?
Cashews have a mild creamy, slightly sweet taste and the same mild smell. With prolonged exposure to heat, the kernels may acquire a bitter taste, so it is important to follow the rules and terms of product storage.
Cashew nuts are consumed both raw and roasted. Roasted cashews have an excellent sweet taste. It is usually fried with salt, although without salt it retains a wonderful natural flavor.
You can eat cashews as a standalone product as a snack, as it quickly satisfies hunger. In addition, people add these nuts to pastries and confectionery, salads, and first and second courses. The product is also used in the manufacture of sauces and nut butter. Cashews are especially popular in Indian and Asian cuisine.
For vegetarians and vegans, this fruit is a real find. They add it to various salads and even make excellent plov, the taste of which becomes heavenly thanks to cashews. Cashew nuts also add a delicious nutty flavor to any dish. So cashews can truly be called a panacea for gourmets.
Many people try to avoid eating cashews because of the misconception that nuts are high in fat. In fact, they even have less fat than almonds, walnuts, and peanuts.
Can Cashew Fruit Be Eaten Raw?
You can eat freshly ripened cashews. But with cashew nuts, not everything is so simple. Have you ever wondered why, unlike other nuts, cashews are never sold in their shells? And all because between the shell and the membrane behind which the nut is hidden, there is a very caustic substance cardol, which, upon contact with the skin, causes serious damage, up to burns.
Before being sold, the nuts are very carefully removed from the shell and membrane, after which, as a rule, they undergo a special heat treatment until the oil completely evaporates (even a small amount of oil can cause poisoning).
This is a responsible and, without exaggeration, one can say a dangerous process, that even among experienced “peelers” of nuts, there are frequent cases of burns with this substance, because cutting nuts is done only by hand.
Never try to peel cashew nuts yourself if you suddenly have the opportunity somewhere in tropical countries!
What Are The Benefits Of The Cashew Fruit?
Its useful properties were first discovered by the Tikun Indians, who lived on the territory of modern Brazil. The beneficial properties of cashews are explained by their special composition. First of all, these nuts are very useful for women, because they contain a large amount of a wonderful antioxidant – vitamin E, which has a great effect on skin, nails, and hair and prevents aging.
In addition, there are many other vitamins in cashews (A, B1, B2, PP), as well as amino acids (lysine, tryptophan, glycine) and minerals (magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium).
According to the amount of magnesium, necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, cashews take 1st place among nuts. It also holds the record for the amount of iron and potassium.
People consider cashew the least allergenic and least fatty nut. Although it certainly contains fats, they are mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3, 6, 9, which are extremely useful for humans, because they:
- strengthen memory;
- strengthen immunity;
- increase the energy of the body;
- improve heart function;
- cleanse blood vessels;
- have a positive effect on the skin;
- prevent blood clots;
- help fight depression.
It is also worth noting that the constant intake of 30 g of cashews a day allows you to reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and saturate the body with many useful substances.
In the homeland of cashew Brazil, Latin Americans use it as a natural cure for colds, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and poisoning, headaches, and toothaches. In addition, this fruit is the most natural antiseptic, and it is recommended to include it in the diet of people suffering from exhaustion and anemia.
High-quality oil is pressed from these nuts, which is used in medicine and cosmetology. It has numerous useful properties – it nourishes, softens, fights bacteria and viruses, and relieves spasms. But it is important to remember that before use, it is worth testing the oil on the skin to avoid unwanted allergic reactions.
Conclusion
As you can see, cashews are indeed an amazing product. This is a panacea for many diseases, and a dangerous poison – all in one bottle.
Vegans and vegetarians should definitely include cashews in their diet. Nuts are a good source of protein. With a plant-based diet, it is very easy to miss it, so nuts and legumes should be on the table every day.
Cashews may also be of interest to athletes: they contain not only healthy fats but also more carbohydrates than other nuts. This may be true for those who experience serious physical exertion.
If you want to extend the shelf life of cashews, store them in an airtight container in a dark and cool place. With prolonged storage, the beneficial oils in the nut can oxidize – and then the product will become harmful. Feel free to put the nuts in the refrigerator, and if necessary, freeze them.
