Since whole nuts fetch a prettier price at market, in India, processing has traditionally been done by hand to ensure the highest output of unscathed kernels. What many people don’t realise, is that cashews go through an extremely elaborate processing system before they arrive neatly packaged at our supermarkets.
Are cashews harvested by hand?
Once they are harvested, the cashews are sent for processing, which takes place in factories and at workers’ homes. Shelling the nuts is labour intensive and is usually done by hand.
How are cashews processed?
After the drupe has dried out, it’s roasted over a fire or steamed in a boiler. The drupes are roasted for about 20 minutes, after which the hard outer shell will be more flexible. After cooling, they can then be cut open. Roasting must be done in an open-air space because the fumes can be toxic if inhaled.
What does an unprocessed cashew look like?
What Do Unshelled Cashews Look Like? Unshelled cashews are actually dark, like a dark brown color. The nuts we get at the store are never raw.
How are cashews packaged?
Cashew kernels are packaged in boxes or cartons containing two sealed tinplate canisters to protect the product from autoxidation. Cashew nuts are packaged in, among other things, polysacks (10 – 25 kg).
Why are cashews not ethical?
Women have to separate the actual nut from the skin, which contains toxic oils that burn skin and damage the eyesight. They are usually not provided with safety equipment such as gloves due to cost-cutting measures, which expose them to these toxins and influence their health and well-being.
Are there ethically sourced cashews?
The Fair Trade Certified™ seal represents thousands of products, improving millions of lives, protecting land and waterways in 45 countries and counting. Beyond exists strictly to produce the world’s best cashews through a fair trade, thriving, and sustainable farming community.
How are organic cashews processed?
After further cleaning by hand, the raw kernels are dried gently at 45°C (113°F) for 3 hours. This low-temperature processing also qualifies them to be accurately labeled and sold as ‘raw organic’ food.
Is it safe to eat raw cashews?
Truly raw cashews are not safe to eat, as they contain a substance known as urushiol, found in poison ivy. Urushiol is toxic, and contact with it can trigger a skin reaction in some people. Cashew kernels are often sold as “raw” in stores, but these have been steamed. This removes the toxins.
How do you process cashew nuts at home?
The processing consists of roasting the nuts at 350 – 400°F (180-200°C) for 10 – 20 minutes on fine sand to extract the caustic cashew nut oil. The oil may spurt from the shells when the nuts are heated. During this initial roasting the sand will take up the oil and also prevents the oil from spurting.
Are raw cashews actually raw?
The so-called raw cashews sold in natural food stores are not exactly raw, but instead are steamed. It is the case that the double shell surrounding the raw cashew, which is technically a seed and not a nut, contains urushiol, a resin that can create significant skin rashes, and can be toxic when ingested.
Are unroasted cashews the same as raw?
Cashews are prepared for consumption in one of two ways: raw and roasted. The phrase “raw cashew” is misleading, as all cashews fit for consumption have been roasted once to remove both the cashew shell and the shell’s harmful oils. Roasted cashews are roasted a second time to alter or enhance the cashews’ flavor.
Which grade of cashew is best?
W – 180, is the ‘ King of Cashew ‘ – They are larger in size and very expensive. W – 210, are popularly known as ‘ Jumbo ‘ nuts. W – 240, it is an attractive grade which is reasonably priced. W – 320, are the most popular among cashew kernels and highest in terms of availability, worldwide.
How are raw cashews harvested?
Cashew harvesting can take place about two months after the fruit has set, when the apple takes on a pink or red cast and the nut turns gray. Alternatively, you can wait until the fruit falls to the ground, when you know it’s ripe. After harvesting, twist the nuts off of the apples by hand.
How do you remove urushiol from cashews?
Urushiol is the reason cashews are never sold in the shell and are typically roasted. The oil is found on the outer shell (similar to mangos, where it’s found on the skin) and roasting the cashews at high temperatures can kill any remaining oil that makes its way through to the nut.
What is the most environmentally friendly nut?
With one of the lowest water footprints, peanuts are one of the most eco-friendly nuts, using just 1513 litres per pound. They also have a low CO2e footprint; in fact the lowest CO2e footprint of all the nuts listed.
What are the disadvantages of eating cashew nuts?
Some people are allergic to cashew. Cashew nuts may also cause bloating, constipation, weight gain, and joint swelling in some people. But these side effects are rare.
Should cashew nuts be organic?
If you want the highest quality nutrients, it’s worth the extra cost to buy organic, raw nuts. It’s also recommended that you buy organic as much as possible when purchasing cashews, peanuts, and pistachios.
How are cashews treated?
Even cashews labeled as raw in stores have been shelled and heat-treated, either through roasting or steaming, to remove urushiol residue.
What nuts are Fairtrade?
There is a huge variety of Fairtrade nuts, seeds and pitted fruits available. They range from olives to peanuts, cashews, sesame seeds, and soya beans. Some, like wild-growing shea nuts, are collected by associations of gatherers. Others, like coconuts, can be grown on small-scale farms and plantations.
Are pesticides used on cashews?
The agricultural use of pesticides has enabled cashew farmers to increase their crop yields significantly in cashew producing regions. Pesticides provide a useful tool to control insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), plant diseases (fungicides), as well as other agricultural pests.