Cashew is a kidney-shaped nut that grows at the base of the cashew apple, the fruit of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale), which is native to northeastern Brazil. It was spread globally by Portuguese colonists, especially to India and Africa.
The word cashew comes from the Portuguese “caju”, which was derived from the Tupi (an indigenous Brazilian language) word “acajú”.
Cashew is a creamy, crescent-shaped nut used in cooking and snacking, grown from the tropical cashew tree.
