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Introduction
Cashew is a fruit that has a nut attached to it called the Cashew nut. Cashew nuts are edible after some processing and are rich in protein and other nutrients which can offer some useful health benefits. They can help boost bone strength, heart health, rich in copper, zinc, magnesium, iron and phosphorous .
Uses
Cashew nuts is a key ingredient in making:
- Snacks
Cashew nuts are considered a healthier alternative to other savoury snacks, such as crisps and extruded snacks, and more beneficial to health than peanuts in most major consuming countries. It is possible to purchase raw, roasted, or cashews that have been seasoned with various savoury or sweet flavourings (chilli, paprika, honey, spicy and sweet and etc.).
- Food ingredients
Moreover, Cashew nuts are also an ingredient in various foods and functional food products, such as breakfast cereals, fruit and nut bars, and chocolate products with cashew nuts. In addition, they go well as an addition to salads, smoothies, stir-fries, and other dishes used to enrich the meals.
- Cashew Milk
In the age where diary consumption causes more and more allergies, is not suitable for vegans and other types of common diets – cashew nut products are a good diary replacement. One of them is Cashew milk. It is a dairy-free product perfect for coffee, cereals, smoothies, soups, sauces, and more.
- 4. Cashew Butter
Similar to peanut butter, cashew butter contains a lot of healthy fats. It has a little high concentration of monounsaturated fat compared to peanut butter. Cashew butter contains high concentrations of iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, and calcium. The butter is usually made from raw or baked cashews, and it has a rich creamy flavour. Raw cashew butter seems to be better at retaining all the nutritional properties of the cashews after processing, so it is advisable to opt for that variant.
- Cashew Cheese
Cashew cheese can be in various forms: soft cheese to use as a bread spread or hard cheese as well. It remains purely vegan and can meet many diet requirements eaten as a healthy snack with olives and grapes or topping for sandwiches, toasts, and pizzas.
- Cashew Cream
Cashew cream has a usual consistency of regular cream and can be added to a variety of sweet or savoury dishes as a healthy vegan substitute for heavy whipping cream. Foods that use cream are ice cream, many sauces, soups, stews, puddings, and some custard bases, and is also used for cakes.
- Cashew Yoghurt
The benefits of cashew yoghurt come from friendly probiotic bacteria and the cashews themselves. It is made from unsalted raw cashew, has lower sugar, and many health benefits.
- Medicine
People also use the nut to make medicine. Cashew is used for stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal) disorders. Some people apply cashew directly to the skin as a skin stimulant and to seal (cauterize) ulcers, warts, and corns.
- Cashew powder
Cashew powder is popular in gluten-free cooking and baking. It can easily replace almond flour and be used in cookies, muffins, and quick bread. Cashew flour is already sweet by nature and it doesn’t have the bitterness that almonds can have.
- Cashew oil
Cashew oil is recognized as extremely top-quality cooking oil, and it is also frequently regarded as healthier than other types of cooking oil. These types of exotic nuts are very first shelled and dried. The skins are then taken out, and the nuts are pressed to produce the oil.
- Cashew skin cream
Cashews are known as acne-fighting nutrients. These nuts are high in selenium, which acts as an antioxidant with vitamin E, leaving hydrated skin and reduced inflammation. Moisturizing cream brings condition and protection to skin and hair.
Production, export, import and consumption in Nigeria
Production= 100000, Import= 10630, Export=99852. (Source: WITF (World Bank)
Growing Cashew nut
Nuts germinate within 4 days when lying on wet soil. The cashew is a strong plant that is renowned for growing in soils, especially sandy soils, that are generally unsuitable for other fruit trees. For the best production deep, well-drained sandy or sandy-loam soil is recommended.
Duration and Season
If you want to grow cashew nut trees, keep in mind that it will take two to three years from the time you plant until the time you harvest nuts.
Sowing and harvest period
Cashew in Africa’s most populous country is usually harvested between February-June, though farmers stock the crop and export it all year round.
Main Producing States in Nigeria.
- Kogi (Largest producer)
- Enugu
- Kwara
- Oyo
- Niger
- Imo
- Abuja FCT
- Kaduna
- Abia.
Relevant Agencies in Nigeria.
NCAN (National Cashew Association of Nigeria)
ACA (African Cashew Alliances).
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