Cashew

Cashew is often regarded as the fruit of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) when, in fact, it is a pseudo fruit.

What we understand popularly as “cashew” consists of two parts: the fruit itself, which is the chestnut; and its floral stalk, the pseudo fruit, a pear-shaped, yellow, pink or red body.

The Cashew, the pseudo fruit, is juicy and rich in vitamin C and iron. Juices, honey and candies are prepared after the cashew processing, such as cashew candy, raisin cashews, and cashew rapadura. As its juice ferments quickly, it can be distilled to produce a brandy called cauim. In addition, non-alcoholic beverages are also made from it, such as cajuína (clarified cashew). The cashew was already a staple food for indigenous populations long before the discovery of Brazil and before the arrival of the Portuguese settlers. For example: the Tremembé people already fermented the cashew juice, called the mocororó, which was and is drunk in the Torém ceremony.