“Cashew nuts provide a wide range of possibilities of use as a very interesting nut ingredient. The functionality that cashew nuts can bring into products is enormous and given the availability of a variety of grades, one can choose the ingredient depending on the applications.” 

Globalization of food preferences has brought in new opportunities for various natural food ingredients. The awareness on health, well being, vitality and lifestyle led diseases has increased multifold. The major concerns now are in the area of calorie intake, dietary fats and their role in obesity, sugar and salt consumption, foods with empty calories and high glycemic index. During the last decade of knowledge era, major shifts in consumer food preferences have led to the re—emergence of fruits, nuts and other naturally occurring food products to the limelight. At the same time, food manufacturers and marketers want to provide a balance of convenience, taste and nutrition in every product that is brought into the market. The competition in the market place now brings the need for food manufactures to be more innovative in each offering that is brought into the market which fits the new needs of the emerging consumer needs for natural foods and nutrient requirements.

Tree nuts have existed in the world for many decades and have proven to be one of the best natural food with high quality of nutrients that mother nature has provided. Tree nuts are a traditional part of many ethnic cuisines, providing rich flavours that compliment just about any food. Cashew is one of the tree nuts that probably received the least attention of food manufacturers and product developers across the world. This article attempts to bring out the knowledge that is locked in the area of cashew nuts as this provides a very versatile combination of taste, nutrition and functional properties, which are interesting for food manufacturers and product developers. 

Nutrition Qualities of Cashew Nut

Cashew nut like most of the other tree nuts can be called as the natures “vitamin Pill”. This is due to the fact that cashew nuts have a balanced nutrient profile very close to the “ideal” nutrition profile of any natural food product. Table A compares nutrient profile of cashew nuts to the various other tree and plant nuts. Nuts are relatively higher in fat content. However, most of the fat is unsaturated. On average, 85% of the fat in nuts is unsaturated. In cashew nuts, the interesting points in the nutrient profile are the fatty acid constitution of cashew nuts. Nuts are also cholesterol free. The ratio of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fatty acids is 1:2:1. 

Quality and Variety of Ingredients Available

Cashew nuts are available from countries such as India, Vietnam, Brazil, Tanzania and West African countries. Companies such as Olam International Ltd are leaders in the cashew nut supply chain operate in all the growing and processing countries. 

Concerns in the use of Tree nut ingredients

Peanuts, Pistachio, Almonds and Walnuts are very well known for the presence of aflatoxins and hence there is the requirement to ensure that the ingredients which are used in any brand should be checked for the aflatoxins and ensure that it is safe. As for Cashew kernel, the presence of aflatoxins is very rare. This is due to the fact that the kernel is protected by a very thick shell and the growth of moulds which generate the aflatoxins are impossible through cashew nut shell. Hence, the use of cashew nut ingredients is trouble free from this point of concern.