Cashew kernels, which have a slight brown colour due to longer roasting. They have all the other characteristics of white kernels and have the same nutritional qualities. Butts, splits and pieces are priced lower and are ideal for cooking, preparation of sweets and savoury snacks.
Cashew nuts types or cashew Kernels varieties are graded into white/scorched wholes, pieces, splits, butts etc. Depending on the shape, size & colour of the kernel. The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a short, stocky, low-spreading, evergreen tropical tree. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured. It flowers once a year, between the months of November and January.
Cashew kernels are processed from raw cashews. They have become increasingly popular all over the world in the recent years, eaten either as an evening snack or in breakfast meals
Cashewnut kernels are mainly used for the snack market as a roasted and salted snack. Due to the lovely taste, the cashewnut is seen as an upper class nut. The cashewnut is becoming of more and more interest to industrial users and is as such used for cookies, cereals and is also promoted as a topping on ice-cream. Increasing demand for healthy snacks, growing demand from European countries and the rising number of primary processing units in Africa are the key factors driving the market growth. However, unfavorable climate changes pose a threat to cashew cultivation. The flowering, fruiting, pest incidence, yield and quality of cashew kernels and nut are highly vulnerable to climate change.
India is one of the major producers and second largest exporter of cashew kernel in the global market, representing 19.1% share in the global cashew kernel exports. India produced 160,000 metric ton of cashew kernel in 2016. The total exports of cashew kernels from India were valued at USD 943,419 thousand, while the total quantity exported was 88,419 metric ton in the year 2017.
