Cashews: Nuts from a Tropical Fruit

Did you know cashews actually grow on a fruit? Most people think cashews come from

a tree like other nuts, but they actually grow attached to the bottom of a

tropical fruit called the cashew apple. The nut itself isn’t like the ones you eat straight from

the shell it’s surrounded by a toxic coating that makes it unsafe to eat raw. That’s why cashews

are always roasted or steamed before they reach your snack bowl. And the cashew apple?

It’s juicy, sweet, and often used to make juice, jams,

and even alcoholic drinks in some countries. So the next time you enjoy a handful of cashews,

remember they started life as a fruit!