| The cashew is a nut with a long history although it was not until the last century when it came into use as a tropical plantation. The earliest known facts about cashews come from Brazil thanks to discoverers from France, Portugal and Holland. Naturist Frances Thevet (1558) was the first to discover the tree in a site near the coast of Northern Brazil. He wrote that the oil from cashews was used by indigenous people and that the nuts were roasted and eaten. Gandao (1976) was the first Portuguese writer to describe the cashew, calling the nut refreshing and noting that it was very often used in hot seasons. He also wrote that its flavor was superior to even that of almonds. The main cashew producing countries today are India and Brazil. There are major plantations in Central Africa and although they are constantly improving, the overall quality of the product does not reach the standards of India and Brazil. | | |