I've never seen a cashew with a shell. Does it even have one?
<div class="IPBDescription">If so what does it look like? How is it grown?</div><a href="http://www.gigglemoose.com/quest-cashews.htm" target="_blank">Yes indeed, the cashew does have a shell</a> .
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As a member of the Anacardiaceae family, the cashew is related to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. (Oddly enough, it’s also related to the mango.) Thus, the shell surrounding the kernel contains oil which can irritate human skin just like its annoying relatives. As you might expect, that makes the whole process of harvesting cashews a bit complicated. But let’s start from the beginning . . .
Cashews grow on large tropical evergreens with wide green leaves. Native to tropical America, these shrub-like trees can grow 30' to 40' high, and spread up to 60' wide. The nut grows on the end of a 2–4" fleshy stalk. After the nut develops, the stalk swells into a white, yellow, or red, pear-shaped "fruit" called the cashew apple. The apple itself is safe and edible raw. It’s also commonly used to make jelly, juice, and wine.
Watch your fingers . . .
The nut, however, is not safe or edible raw. The delicious kernel is trapped within two shells, an oily outer layer and a thin hard one, which are separated by a honeycombed tissue. Because the nuts are fragile and kidney-shaped, nobody has been able to develop a method of shelling them with machines. So the nuts are actually prepared by hand. To reduce the toxicity of the cashew oil and make the shells brittle, the nuts are first roasted. Even this step is dangerous, though, because the smoke given off is also a poisonous irritant. Finally, the shells are broken away by skilled workers using wooden hammers---who must be careful not to damage the nuts within!
So the next time you pop open a can of yummy cashews with a friend, share the fascinating story behind these popular curved nuts!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As a member of the Anacardiaceae family, the cashew is related to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. (Oddly enough, it’s also related to the mango.) Thus, the shell surrounding the kernel contains oil which can irritate human skin just like its annoying relatives. As you might expect, that makes the whole process of harvesting cashews a bit complicated. But let’s start from the beginning . . .
Cashews grow on large tropical evergreens with wide green leaves. Native to tropical America, these shrub-like trees can grow 30' to 40' high, and spread up to 60' wide. The nut grows on the end of a 2–4" fleshy stalk. After the nut develops, the stalk swells into a white, yellow, or red, pear-shaped "fruit" called the cashew apple. The apple itself is safe and edible raw. It’s also commonly used to make jelly, juice, and wine.
Watch your fingers . . .
The nut, however, is not safe or edible raw. The delicious kernel is trapped within two shells, an oily outer layer and a thin hard one, which are separated by a honeycombed tissue. Because the nuts are fragile and kidney-shaped, nobody has been able to develop a method of shelling them with machines. So the nuts are actually prepared by hand. To reduce the toxicity of the cashew oil and make the shells brittle, the nuts are first roasted. Even this step is dangerous, though, because the smoke given off is also a poisonous irritant. Finally, the shells are broken away by skilled workers using wooden hammers---who must be careful not to damage the nuts within!
So the next time you pop open a can of yummy cashews with a friend, share the fascinating story behind these popular curved nuts!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Comments
I had no clue, interesting though.
I guess being these are shelled by hand has something to do with their expense.
So, how exactly are mangoes and cashews related?
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They are both delicious?
Num num.
Only <i>old</i> people it cashews.
Num num.
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If such was the case, you wanna get old, and quick.
Never heard of them before.
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And... what cave have you been in?
Never heard of them before.
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One that doesn't contain silly nuts I've never heard of, obviously.
Pistachio nuts are better.
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I hear that, but opening them sucks.
Honey roasted almonds.
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Don't you mean "Honey roasted almonds <i>batman</i>!" ?
... don't ask because I don't know.
Honey roasted almonds.
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I'm allergic to almond oils oddly enough. It causes my gums to swell up. No idea what the physiology behind that is.
They are infected with <!--coloro:Green--><span style="color:Green"><!--/coloro-->Delicious<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->.
except those few pistachios that are physically impossible to crack open with human hands, but I try anyway since i'm persistent.
cashews for when my fingers are torn up and sore!
..and I did not know that about cashews..
Don't you mean "Honey roasted almonds <i>batman</i>!" ?
... don't ask because I don't know. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
HOLY HONEY ROASTED ALMONDS, BATMAN! GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY
So, how exactly are mangoes and cashews related?
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Thats how botanics work. "hay guyz that plant groes in teh ground, what other plants do teh saem?" "mangoez boss". Its all a great mystery where one must consult with various sages, soothsayers and one-eyed trolls in order to find the answer.
(hurr biology student)