Cashew Nuts ... the last word

The cashew nut is just one of many things which I take for granted. There they are with fried chicken, or fried with chopped spring onions and a cold beer, in a packet on the shelf at Lotus, or mixed with other nuts and fruit for a healthy snack. But where do they come from? What do they look like before they are prepared for me to eat? I have no idea.

At least, I had no idea until this week when I was suddenly enlightened regarding the shy and retiring cashew nut. So it seems only right to share my new-found knowledge.

 Cashew nuts are grown in Thailand. Not exclusively in Thailand, I am sure, but in and around Phana for sure, and that is the area I am concerned with. They grow in little bushes mostly, although some bushes are bushier than others.

 I’ll say no more. But here are some Phana cashew nuts for your delectation.

Here is what you might see from the roadside:

 Go a little closer ...

 
and closer still ...

 
And finally, plucked from the bush (and not very expertly photographed):

 

Now the cashew shape is recognisable, but who would have thought they come attached to these pepper-like fruit? Not me. The shell protecting the nut is very hard and I didn’t succeed in my half-hearted efforts to crack one open. I have faith though that there truly is a cashew inside.

Comments

[Martyn]

Lawrence thanks for the fascinating photos of cashew nut fruit. They're amazing looking things aren't they.

You've now got me thinking what kind of animals might eat them due to their outer skin being so hard. My guess is monkeys, they've got teeth and brains good enough to crack open a ATM machine and so cashew fruit to them would be a routine task.

[Lawrence]

Thanks, Martyn. Didn't know about monkeys and ATM machines -- maybe I should cultivate my friendship with one or two of my Don Chao Poo friends and see if we can't form a business partnership, at least until the baht/pound rate improves to my advantage.

[Thai]

That's awesome, but there doesn't seem to be many on a tree, must take a hell of a lot of them to get a kilo.