also called cashew nut. the small, kidney-shaped, edible nut of the cashew tree, (Anacardium occidentale), a native to tropical America.
The cashew tree may be native to Northeastern Brazil, but it was Portuguese merchants who first introduced cashews worldwide in the 1500s. Today, the small cashew tree thrives in warm tropical environments around the equator, often flourishing in the wild outside of cultivation. The fruit of the tree is in fact the cashew apple, and protruding separately at the end of each apple is the hard-shelled cashew nut, which extends oddly like a nose. Removing the highly perishable fruit is easy, but in order to extract the prized cashew kernel from its difficult shell, most nuts are steamed or roasted -- thereby compromising many of the foods health-giving properties. Even cashews labeled raw have most likely been processed in this fashion, unless specifically dictated otherwise. However, Navitas Naturals takes care to specially process our cashews to avoid heat, preserving the nuts valuable enzymes and delicate fats, and keeping them of true raw quality.
Cashew nuts are a satisfying and nutritious snack, and offer a rich portfolio of beneficial oils -- including an ideal ratio of healthy saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Navitas Naturals Cashews are also a good source of plant-based protein, iron, and other trace minerals.
Because of their truly raw quality, Navitas Naturals Cashews are large and soft, and have a delicate, mild, and creamy flavor. They make an enjoyable snack on their own, can be easily ground into luxurious cashew nut butter, or blended with water to make a creamy milk alternative. In their whole state, cashews are a well-received addition to salads, stir-fries, or as a creative ingredient in desserts.