Cashews are the edible seeds of the Anacardium occidentale tree, which is native to Brazil but widely cultivated in tropical regions, including India. Although commonly referred to as a nut, the cashew is botanically the seed that grows from the bottom of the cashew apple, a pseudo-fruit of the tree. Cashews are never sold in their shells because the shell contains a toxic resin (urushiol) similar to that found in poison ivy.
The flavor of cashew nuts is notably mild, creamy, and slightly sweet, with a soft, buttery texture that makes them highly palatable. They are consumed in various forms: raw, roasted, salted, or flavored.
