CASHEW NUT:

Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acaju. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts (see below) and cashew apples.

t is a small evergreen tree growing to 10 to 12m (32 ft) tall, with a short, often irregularlyshaped trunk. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, 4 to 22 cm long and 2 to 15 cm broad, with a smooth margin. The flowers are produced in a panicle or corymb up to 26 cm long, each flower small, pale green at first then turning reddish, with five slender, acute petals 7 to 15 mm long.

What appears to be the fruit of the cashew tree is an oval or pear-shaped accessory fruit or false fruit that develops from the receptacle of the cashew flower. Called the cashew apple, better known in Central America as maranon, it ripens into a yellow and or red structure about 5 to 11 cm long. It is edible, and has a strong sweet smell and a sweet taste. The pulp of the cashew apple is very juicy, and the skin is fragile, thus making it unsuitable for transport.