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(Anacardium occidentale) Although a native
of Brazil, the cashew was taken by the Portuguese to Goa on the
south-western coast of India. Its native (South American) name of acaju
became caju or cadju or kaju in the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka and
Malaysia. South India is now one of the world's leading exporters of
cashews, growing as many as Brazil.
The cashew fruit, sometimes called cashew
apple, has a shiny skin which turns orange-red when ripe. It is eaten,
but not in large amounts as its flesh has considerable astringency. A
strange fruit, it carries its seed outside, not in. The seed is enclosed
in a thick, hard shell which hangs off the end of the somewhat
pear-shaped fruit and the cashew as we know it is the kernel of the
seed. The shell contains anacordolic acid, a substance which can damage
the salivary glands and cause paralysis of the jaw. While it is unlikely
anyone would attempt to eat the shells, they have to be cut open in
order to get the kernels. The sap is capable of blistering the hands.
Fresh cashews have a sweet, milky and
crunchy rather than crisp texture. In Asia they are boiled with turmeric
and salt, and small parcels of these boiled nuts wrapped in mango leaves
are taken round by street-sellers. When roasted, cashews are crisp yet
softer to bite through than many other nuts. In Goa, they are lightly
fried and sprinkled with salt and chili powder, just enough to add a
touch of excitement. These are often served with a drink of fresh
coconut juice.
Since cashews are grown in Asia and are much
cheaper than imported almonds, they take the place of almonds in many
recipes. In southern India cashews are added to thicken sauces in much
the same way almonds are used in northern India. Cashews are also used
in savory dishes, and in Sri Lanka, one of the regional specialties is a
cashew nut curry. Fresh cashews are not available in countries where
they are not grown. Raw cashews, if soaked in water for 30 minutes, are
reasonably like fresh cashews, and certainly have a much better texture
than canned cashew curry.
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