Are Cashews Nuts? The Truth About This Popular Snack

If you’ve ever wondered about the true nature of cashews, you’re not alone. Despite being sold alongside almonds, walnuts, and pecans in the nut aisle, cashews have a unique botanical identity that sets them apart from what we typically consider “nuts.”

Cashews are among the most beloved snacks worldwide, prized for their creamy texture, mild sweetness, and impressive nutritional profile. But the question remains: are cashews actually nuts? The answer is more complex and fascinating than you might expect.

This comprehensive guide will explore the botanical truth behind cashews, explain why they’re often grouped with tree nuts, and reveal what makes them so distinctly different from other popular nuts.

What Are Cashews Botanically?

To understand what cashews truly are, we need to examine how they grow and develop on the cashew tree, scientifically known as Anacardium occidentale.

The cashew tree is native to Brazil but is now cultivated in tropical regions around the world, including India, Vietnam, and several African countries. What makes the cashew tree particularly unique is its unusual fruit structure.

The cashew tree produces what appears to be a pear-shaped, fleshy structure called a cashew apple. This swollen stem grows at the end of the branches and is often red or yellow in color. However, contrary to what many people believe, the cashew apple is not the actual fruit of the plant—it’s a false fruit or accessory fruit.

The true fruit is the kidney-shaped structure that hangs beneath the cashew apple. This hard-shelled structure is called a drupe, which is a type of fruit with an outer fleshy part surrounding a shell that contains a seed inside.

Inside this drupe is where you’ll find what we commonly call the cashew “nut”—but botanically speaking, it’s actually a seed. This seed is surrounded by a hard shell that contains toxic oils, which is why cashews are always sold pre-shelled and never in their natural state.

Drupe Seeds: The Technical Classification

Because cashews grow inside a drupe fruit, they are technically classified as drupe seeds rather than true nuts. This puts them in the same category as other unexpected foods like:

• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Even coconuts

All of these popular “nuts” are actually the seeds found inside drupe fruits, not true botanical nuts at all.

What Makes a True Nut?

To understand why cashews aren’t technically nuts, it helps to know what defines a true nut in botanical terms.

A true nut is a hard-shelled fruit that doesn’t open to release its seed when it matures. The seed and the fruit are one and the same—the shell is the fruit wall, and it remains closed around the single seed throughout its development.

Examples of true botanical nuts include:

• Acorns
• Chestnuts
• Hazelnuts (also called filberts)
• Beechnuts

These true nuts develop differently from cashews. They don’t grow inside a larger fruit structure; instead, the nut itself is the complete fruit.

Are Cashews Related to Legumes?

Another common question is whether cashews might be legumes, similar to peanuts. This confusion arises because cashews share some structural similarities with legumes.

Legumes are plants that produce seeds in pods, and these pods typically split open along a seam when mature. Common legumes include:

• Beans
• Peas
• Lentils
• Peanuts

Peanuts are often the source of confusion because, despite being called “nuts,” they’re actually legumes. They grow underground in pods that split open to reveal multiple seeds.

While cashews can be split in half similarly to peanuts, they don’t qualify as legumes because they develop inside a hard-shelled drupe rather than a pod. The growing conditions and fruit structure are fundamentally different from those of true legumes.

Why Are Cashews Grouped With Tree Nuts?

If cashews aren’t technically nuts, why are they sold in the nut section and classified as tree nuts by food regulators and nutritionists?

Nutritional Similarities

From a nutritional standpoint, cashews share many characteristics with true tree nuts:

• High in healthy fats: Cashews contain predominantly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, similar to other nuts
• Rich in protein: They provide plant-based protein comparable to other tree nuts
• Dense in nutrients: Cashews offer minerals like magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron
• Similar calorie content: Their caloric density matches that of other nuts

Culinary Uses

In the kitchen, cashews function identically to other nuts. They can be:

• Eaten raw or roasted as snacks
• Ground into nut butter
• Chopped and added to salads, stir-fries, and baked goods
• Soaked and blended to create dairy-free cream sauces
• Used in trail mixes and granola
• Processed into cashew milk

Allergy Considerations

From an allergy perspective, cashews are classified with tree nuts because they contain similar proteins that can trigger allergic reactions. People with tree nut allergies are often advised to avoid cashews, even though they’re botanically different from true nuts.

The FDA requires cashews to be labeled as tree nuts for allergen disclosure purposes, which reinforces their classification alongside almonds, walnuts, and pecans in consumer awareness.

The Unique Growing Process of Cashews

Understanding how cashews grow helps explain why they’re so different from other nuts and seeds.

From Flower to Harvest

The cashew tree produces small, fragrant flowers that develop into the cashew apple and drupe. As the structure matures, the cashew apple swells and becomes the larger, more noticeable part, while the true fruit (the drupe containing the cashew seed) remains relatively small.

In many cashew-producing regions, both parts are utilized. The cashew apple can be eaten fresh, juiced, or fermented into alcoholic beverages, though it’s highly perishable and rarely exported. The cashew seed, however, is the primary commercial product.

Processing Challenges

The space between the inner seed and outer shell of the cashew drupe contains caustic oils called anacardic acid and cardol. These substances can cause severe skin irritation and burns, which is why cashew processing requires careful handling.

Workers must heat the cashews to neutralize these oils before cracking open the shells to extract the edible seeds. This is why you’ll never find cashews sold in their shells like peanuts or walnuts—it would be dangerous for consumers to crack them open at home.

Nutritional Benefits of Cashews

Regardless of their botanical classification, cashews offer impressive health benefits that make them a valuable addition to most diets.

Heart Health Support

Cashews are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which have been associated with improved heart health. These healthy fats may help reduce bad cholesterol levels while maintaining good cholesterol.

Mineral Content

Cashews are particularly high in several essential minerals:

• Copper: Important for energy production and immune function
• Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function, bone health, and energy metabolism
• Zinc: Essential for immune function and wound healing
• Iron: Necessary for oxygen transport in the blood
• Phosphorus: Important for bone health and energy production

Antioxidant Properties

Cashews contain various antioxidants, including vitamin E and carotenoids, which help protect cells from oxidative damage and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Plant-Based Protein

For those following vegetarian or vegan diets, cashews provide a good source of plant-based protein, with approximately 5 grams per ounce.

How Cashews Compare to Other Popular Nuts

While cashews are botanically different from true nuts, it’s interesting to see how they stack up nutritionally against other popular options:

Cashews vs. Almonds

Both are drupe seeds with similar nutritional profiles. Almonds tend to be slightly higher in fiber and vitamin E, while cashews contain more iron and slightly less fat overall.

Cashews vs. Walnuts

Walnuts are also drupe seeds and are notably higher in omega-3 fatty acids than cashews. However, cashews have a milder flavor that many people find more versatile in cooking.

Cashews vs. Peanuts

Peanuts are legumes rather than drupe seeds, and they typically contain more protein than cashews. However, cashews have a creamier texture and are often preferred in dairy-free cooking applications.

Common Questions About Cashews

Why Are Cashews More Expensive Than Other Nuts?

The labor-intensive processing required to safely extract cashew seeds from their toxic shells contributes to their higher cost. Additionally, cashew trees take several years to begin producing, and the shells must be handled carefully by trained workers.

Can You Eat Cashew Apples?

Yes, cashew apples are edible and enjoyed in regions where cashews are grown. They have a sweet, slightly astringent flavor and are rich in vitamin C. However, they’re highly perishable and bruise easily, making them impractical for export.

Are Raw Cashews Really Raw?

Cashews labeled as “raw” in stores have actually been heat-treated to remove the toxic oils from their shells. Truly raw cashews are never sold to consumers because they would be dangerous to handle and eat.

Do Cashews Need to Be Refrigerated?

Due to their fat content, cashews can become rancid if stored improperly. While they can be kept in a cool, dark pantry for a few weeks, refrigeration or freezing extends their shelf life significantly.

Using Cashews in Your Diet

Whether you call them nuts, seeds, or drupes, cashews are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.

Sweet Applications

• Blend soaked cashews into smoothies for added creaminess
• Make homemade cashew butter for spreading on toast
• Add chopped cashews to cookies, brownies, or energy balls
• Create cashew-based desserts like vegan cheesecakes

Savory Dishes

• Toss cashews into stir-fries for added crunch and protein
• Blend soaked cashews into creamy pasta sauces
• Sprinkle roasted cashews on salads
• Make cashew cream as a dairy-free alternative to heavy cream
• Add cashews to rice dishes and grain bowls

Portion Considerations

While nutritious, cashews are calorie-dense. A typical serving size is about 1 ounce (roughly 18 cashews), which provides approximately 160 calories. Practicing portion control helps you enjoy their benefits without excessive calorie intake.

The Bottom Line: So Are Cashews Nuts?

The answer depends on your perspective. Botanically speaking, cashews are not true nuts—they’re the seeds of drupe fruits that grow on cashew trees. This makes them more similar to almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, which are all drupe seeds as well.

However, from culinary, nutritional, and practical standpoints, cashews are almost always classified and treated as tree nuts. They share the same nutritional characteristics, culinary applications, and even allergen profiles as true nuts.

The unique way cashews grow—inside a toxic shell beneath a false fruit—makes them one of nature’s most interesting and labor-intensive foods to harvest and process. This complexity contributes to both their higher price point and their mystique.

Ultimately, whether you consider cashews to be nuts, seeds, or drupes doesn’t change their status as a delicious, nutritious, and versatile food. They remain an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, minerals, and antioxidants that can enhance both sweet and savory dishes.

Understanding the botanical classification of cashews gives you a deeper appreciation for this remarkable food and the intricate processes required to bring it from tropical trees to your table. Next time you reach for a handful of cashews, you’ll know you’re eating something far more complex and fascinating than a simple nut.

Sources:

• National Center for Biotechnology Information – PubMed Central
• USDA FoodData Central
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Food Labeling
• Encyclopedia Britannica – Cashew Plant