can you eat cashew fruit

You can eat cashew fruit (often called the cashew apple) as long as you handle it correctly and avoid the raw nut and its shell.

What exactly is cashew fruit?

• The cashew tree produces a swollen, juicy “apple” with the cashew nut hanging underneath it.

• This apple is fully edible and is considered a fruit in its own right in many tropical countries.

Is cashew fruit safe to eat?

• Yes, the cashew apple itself is safe to eat raw or processed into juices, jams, chutneys, vinegars, liquors, and candies.

• The dangerous part is the shell of the nut , which contains caustic, irritant compounds; this is why cashew nuts are always sold already processed and shelled.

What does cashew fruit taste like?

• The cashew apple is usually described as sweet, tangy, and very juicy , with notes reminiscent of pear, mango, and citrus.

• It can also have a slightly astringent, “mouth-drying” feel because of its tannins, similar to strong red wine.

Why don’t you see it in stores?

• Cashew fruit is highly perishable and bruises easily, so it is mostly consumed near where it is grown, such as in Brazil, India, and other tropical regions.

• Because it spoils quickly, it is more often used locally for fresh juice, fermented drinks, and preserves rather than exported as whole fruit.

How is cashew fruit used around the world?

• In Brazil, the cashew apple is eaten fresh, juiced, or made into non‑alcoholic drinks and fermented beverages like regional cashew-based spirits.

• In India (for example, Goa), cashew apples are used to make distilled spirits such as feni, as well as vinegars and various traditional preparations.

Important safety note:
You can eat the fruit/apple , but do not try to roast or open fresh cashew nuts in their shells at home, because the shell oil is caustic and can burn skin and cause irritation if mishandled.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.