Harvest to Snack - The Journey of Cashew Processing

From Harvest to Snack - The Journey of Cashew Processing

1. Popular types of cashew products today

Raw Cashews

• Description: Unroasted and unsalted.
• Uses: Snacking, cooking, grinding into flour, or making cashew butter.
• Benefits: Retains natural nutritional content.

Roasted Cashews

• Description: Roasted with a bit of oil and salt.
• Uses: Directly snacking or adding to dishes.
• Benefits: Rich, buttery, and delicious flavor.

Salted Cashews

• Description: Salted and available in various flavors like sea salt, garlic, and chili.
• Uses: Direct snacking.
• Benefits: Savory flavor, stimulates taste buds.

Unsalted Cashews

• Description: Without added salt.
• Uses: Snacking, cooking.
• Benefits: Healthy option without salt concerns.

Flavored Cashews

• Description: Seasoned with flavors like cinnamon, peri peri, lime, and honey.
• Uses: Direct snacking.
• Benefits: Variety of flavors, creates new experiences.

Cashew Butter

• Description: Made from ground cashews.
• Uses: Spread on bread, making smoothies, adding to dishes.
• Benefits: Source of healthy protein and fats, nutritious.

Cashew Milk

• Description: Dairy-free milk made from cashews.
• Uses: Replacing dairy milk, using in coffee, cereals.
• Benefits: Suitable for vegans, those allergic to dairy.

Cashew Cheese

• Description: Vegan cheese made from cashews.
• Uses: Direct snacking, making sandwiches, adding to dishes.
• Benefits: Replaces animal cheese, nutritious.

Cashew Snacks

• Description: Includes products like cashew brittle, cashew clusters, and snack mixes.
• Uses: Direct snacking.
• Benefits: Variety of flavors and textures.

Cashew Flour

• Description: Finely ground from cashews.
• Uses: Replacing wheat flour in cooking, baking, soups.
• Benefits: Gluten-free, nutritious.

2. Raw cashew nut production process

The production process for raw cashew nuts involves several steps to ensure the nuts are harvested, processed, and prepared for further use or consumption. Here's a detailed overview:

• Harvesting: Cashew nuts are harvested from the cashew apple, which grows on the cashew tree. The nuts are hand-picked and collected.

• Drying: The harvested cashew nuts are sun-dried for several days to reduce moisture content. This step is essential to prevent mold and ensure the nuts are ready for processing.

• Roasting: The nuts are roasted to make the shells brittle and easier to crack. This can be done by steaming or roasting in oil.
• Shelling: After roasting, the outer shell is cracked open to extract the cashew kernel. This process can be done manually or using specialized machinery.

• Peeling: The thin, papery skin covering the cashew kernel is removed. This is typically done using heat treatment to make the skin easier to peel off.
• Grading: The cashew kernels are sorted and graded based on size, color, and quality to ensure consistency in the final product.
• Quality Control: The kernels undergo quality control checks to ensure they meet the desired standards for consumption or further processing.
• Packaging: Finally, the raw cashew kernels are packaged in airtight containers to preserve freshness and protect them from contamination.

This process ensures that raw cashew nuts are properly processed and ready for consumption or further use in various food products. 

3. Roasted cashew nut production process

The production process for roasted cashew nuts involves several key steps to ensure the nuts are properly prepared, shelled, and roasted. Here's an overview of the process:

• Harvesting: Cashew nuts are harvested from the cashew apple, which is a fruit-producing tree. The nuts are hand-picked and collected in buckets.
• Drying: The raw cashew nuts are sun-dried for 2 to 3 days to reduce their moisture content. This step is crucial to prevent mold and ensure the nuts are ready for further processing.

• Storage: After drying, the cashew nuts are stored in a warehouse to keep them safe from pathogens and insects. Proper storage conditions are maintained to preserve the quality of the nuts.
• Calibration: The nuts are sorted and calibrated to ensure uniformity in size and weight.
• Shelling: The cashew nuts are subjected to heat treatment, often referred to as "cooking" or "roasting," to weaken their tough shells. This step involves steam-boiling the nuts.
• Peeling: After shelling, the outer shell is removed to extract the cashew kernel.
• Grading: The kernels are graded based on size, shape, and quality to ensure consistency in the final product.

• Roasting: The cashew kernels are roasted using methods such as drum roasting, oil bath roasting, or steam roasting. This step enhances the flavor and texture of the nuts.
• Quality Control: The roasted cashew nuts undergo quality control checks to ensure they meet the desired standards.
• Packaging: Finally, the roasted cashew nuts are packaged in hermetically sealed containers to protect them from damage, deterioration, and contamination.

This process ensures that the roasted cashew nuts are of high quality and ready for consumption or further use in various food products