The cashew is a nut. It is a member of the Anacardiaceae family and is botanically related to mangoes, pistachios and poison ivy.
Cashew trees are native to Brazil’s northeastern coastal region but are also cultivated in the tropical regions of India and Africa. The tree produces a pear-shaped accessory fruit, or pseudofruit, called a cashew apple, which gives rise to a drupe that grows on its end. This is the tree’s true fruit, and the seed inside it is the cashew nut.
Nuts are the seeds of nut trees that are highly diverse in size, shape, texture and flavor. All nuts grow encased in a shell, and in some instances, the shell is contained inside a fruit or outer husk. While some nuts can be eaten straight from the tree, others must be dried prior to consumption.
Because their biological purpose is to nourish the new trees they’re meant to propagate, nuts are a concentrated source of many important nutrients. They’re generally high in protein, heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, iron and a wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds.
Widely available varieties include cashews, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and Brazil, macadamia and pine nuts. Hickory nuts, beechnuts, acorns, coquito nuts and coconuts are other varieties.
Find out the Difference Between Nuts, Legumes, And Drupes at KnowledgeNuts.