We all enjoy cashew nuts, but what do we know about the fruit it grows from? Most of us don't know about the cashew apple or the fruit of the cashew tree. This fragrant and juicy fruit is quite obscure compared to cashew nuts. Let's take a close look at the fruit and its many benefits.
What is cashew apple?
Cashew apple is erroneously known as the fruit of the cashew tree, but it's not. The nuts are the true fruit and the apple is pseudo-fruit or the swollen stem of the fruit. That's because the nut develops first and the apple follows.
Called the peduncle of the fruit, the cashew apple contains a juicy, rich carbohydrate-rich material called the cashew pulp.
Cashew apple is bell-shaped with a broad base and a tapering top with the cashew nut attached to it. The scientific name of cashew tree is " Anacardium occidentale." The word Anacardium means inverted heart, a reference to the shape of the fruit.
The apple has a juicy and soft flesh with an appetising floral fragrance. The colour of the fruit can range from yellow to bright red, depending upon the fruit's ripeness. Thanks to its bright colours, the cashew apple is quite attractive to look at and can be sometimes used for adornment.
While the nut remains the most popular part of the cashew tree, the apple also has many applications. It is usually eaten when its ripe and is relished for its fruity-floral aroma. The flesh is very juicy with a sweet-sour taste.
The fruit has an astringent-like effect on the tongue that can be mitigated by steaming, boiling or washing the cut fruit before consumption.
The fruit can also be cooked, added to salads, preserved in sugar or fermented into vinegar and alcoholic drinks. In South American countries, cashew apple is used to flavour drinks. The cashew fruit juice and pulp are also used in the preparation of sweets such as dulce de maranon.
In India, cashew apples are it's called kajoo phal in Hindi and Marathi, and kashu manga in Malayalam. Feni, an alcoholic drink popular in Goa and Maharashtra, is made from fermented cashew apples.
Despite its many uses, cashew apple is not as popular as cashew nuts. The reason is its high perishability. The apple has soft flesh, which can easily bruise and rot during transportation, making them economically unviable.
In some countries, there is a prevalent notion that the combination of milk with cashew apples can be poisonous and potentially fatal. This also contributes to the unpopularity of the fruit.
Cashew apple nutrition
100 grams of cashew apple contains the following nutrients:
| Nutrients | Measure (Daily Value) |
| Calories | 53 |
| Fibre | 3.2 gm |
| Carbs | 11.1 gm |
| Fibre | 0.6 gm |
| Calcium | 0.2 mg |
| Phosphorus | 19.0 mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.2 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.2 mg |
| Niacin | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin C | 200 mg |
Health benefits of cashew apple
The juicy, fibrous flesh of the cashew apples is rich in sugars, amino acids, tannins, ascorbic acid, pectin, dietary fibre and antioxidants. In addition to these, they also contain good amounts of minerals like calcium and phosphorus. The apples are six times richer than citrus fruits when it comes to vitamin C.
The cashew apple has been a part of many folk remedies in South America and in India. The juice of the fruit is a remedy for sore throat and chronic dysentery. The fruit has diuretic properties and its fermented alcoholic beverage is said to reduce rheumatic and neurological pain.
Scientific studies on the therapeutic properties of cashew apples say that they have anti-tumour, anti-microbial and antioxidant properties. Following are some of the health benefits of cashew apples.
- Boosts immune system
- Prevents inflammation
- Reduces rheumatic and neurological pain
- Good for digestive health
- Remedy for sore throat
- Treats diarrhoea and dysentery
- Reduces oxidative stress
- Helps promote weight loss
- Reduces cholesterol
- Prevents constipation
- Promotes good eyesight
- Speeds up wound healing
- Boosts sexual vitality
- Good for heart health
- Promotes muscle building
Boosts the immune system: Cashew apples are particularly high in ascorbic acid or vitamin C, which is an important nutrient for immunity. Vitamin C boosts the body's defences by supporting various functions of the innate and adaptive immune system.
Promotes weight loss: Cashew apples have anti-obesity qualities. The extracts of the fruit has proven impact against body weight gain and fat storage. The fruit can also promote weight loss and fat reduction by reducing blood sugar levels and increasing insulin sensitivity. Cashew apples can also impact blood cholesterol levels by increasing HDL and reducing LDL.
Good for digestive health: Cashew apples have long been used as a remedy for a variety of digestive problems. The juice of the fruit can prevent and treat dysentery. The high fibre fruit is also effective against constipation. The presence of pectin in cashew apples acts as soluble fibre, which may help relieve constipation.
References:
1. Akyereko, Y. G., Wireko-Manu, F. D., Alemawor, F., & Adzanyo, M. (2022). Cashew Apples in Ghana: Stakeholders' Knowledge, Perception, and Utilization. International journal of food science, 2022, 2749234. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2749234
2.de Brito, E. S., de Araújo, M. C., Lin, L. Z., & Harnly, J. (2007). Determination of the flavonoid components of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale) by LC-DAD-ESI/MS. Food chemistry, 105(3), 1112–1118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.02.009
3. Tamiello-Rosa CS, Cantu-Jungles TM, Iacomini M, Cordeiro LMC. Pectins from cashew apple fruit (Anacardium occidentale): Extraction and chemical characterization. Carbohydr Res. 2019 Sep 1;483:107752. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2019.107752. Epub 2019 Jul 24. PMID: 31362137.
4. Oliveira, N. N., Mothé, C. G., Mothé, M. G., & de Oliveira, L. G. (2020). Cashew nut and cashew apple: a scientific and technological monitoring worldwide review. Journal of food science and technology, 57(1), 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04051-7
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