Cashew, Red (Anacardium Occidentale)

Limited Release!  The Cashew, a member of the Anacardiaceae family (alongside the

Mango

and

Hog Plum

) comes from Brazil, with vibrant style. With dark, leathery leaves and fragrant pink winter blossoms, this tropical evergreen Cashew Tree can’t help but become a food forest favorite. 

The Cashew Apple becomes a luscious red oval fruit ranging from yellow to red, with a bottom portion housing its raw Cashew Nut in a double-hulled shell housed in caustic, irritating oil which should be handled with care (and definitely gloves). Many will freeze the shell and separate the interior with long-sleeves, goggles and a cautious hand. From there, roast your Cashew Nuts and enjoy!

The tree grows like a weed when given at least 6 hours of sun and a tropical environment. It takes little to keep happy, so long as it stays warm. (Ensure your Cashew Tree gets plenty of

frost protection

!) Once established, the Cashew Tree also dons enduring drought-resistance.

When harvest season finally comes, enjoy the Cashew Fruit’s waxy-smooth oval exterior, ranging from yellow to red, and its juicy, chewy, and somewhat spongy interior, rocking loads of calcium, iron, vitamin B1 and C. If you’re fearing scurvy, not to worry! The chewy, sweet Cashew Apple carries 5x the amount of Vitamin-C found in an orange, so soak up the nutrition!