About
Cashew is a tropical evergreen fast-growing tree that produces cashew apple and cashew seed. It is native of Brazil and grows to an height of 12metres at an altitude up to 700m MSL with an annual precipitation of 1000 to 2000 mm. Sandy or laterite soil where water do not stagnate, slightly acidic to neutral pH soil is suitable for cashew farming. Tree takes 3 years from planting to bear the fruit but, economic harvest can be done after 8 years. But recent breeds can provide economic yield after 3 years.
The cashew seed is widely consumed, eaten on its own, used in recipes or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. Cashew apple is yellowish to light reddish fruit, pulp can be processed into a sweet, stringent fruit drink or distilled into liquor.