How Did I Miss That?
Welcome to Episode 2,
One Crazy Nut!
And I don’t mean me!
I’m Lisa Blank and this is How Did I Miss That?
My cousin, Amy, owns a business out of New Braunfels called Nut Monkey. She makes this heavenly concoction that she refers to as cashew cheese or spread. It’s divine! But that’s obviously not the fact that I somehow missed. What I didn’t know until recently is that the cashew isn’t technically a nut at all. It’s actually called a drupe seed that hangs below the cashew apple on a tree. What?!
So there I went…down the rabbit hole to find more about what makes up one of my favorite snacks and appetizers.
Now for the sake of commonality, I’ll continue to use the term nut when referring to cashews, though. Because cashew drupe seed just doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.
The seed that we eat and refer to as a cashew nut grows at the bottom of the cashew apple and is surrounded by the drupe, which is a hard shell. This shell contains oils that cause skin irritations similar to poison ivy. That’s why you’ll never see cashews sold unshelled. The shells are roasted to eliminate the toxic oil and then hand shelled by workers. Yeah, I said hand shelled. Since the cashew is relatively delicate, most harvesters choose this more labor-intensive method to preserve them. That explains the cost at the store!
The cashew apples are also harvested to be fermented into vinegars or alcoholic beverages. In Brazil, where the cashew trees are native, and other regions where they’re grown, such as parts of Asia and Africa, you can actually find cashew apple soda, juice, jam, or chutney. Due to the fruit being very delicate and having a short shelf life, you most likely won’t see cashew apples sold in US stores. However! The US does consume over 90% of the cashews that are harvested worldwide.
The best part about this expensive, little nut is that they’re nutritious and versatile! While some people tend to shy away from cashews and other nuts because of their higher fat contents, what they may not realize is that those fats are heart healthy and unsaturated. Cashews are also high in protein and in dietary iron which is necessary for carrying oxygen throughout your body and supporting your immune system. So feel free to add them to your favorite dish, grab them as a snack, or crush them up for a great chicken breading.
Full disclosure though…you won’t ever find me munching on a handful of cashews. They’re the first ones I pick out of a trail mix and I’m not going to order cashew chicken at a Chinese restaurant. However, when Amy grinds them up and adds Bavarian mustard and spices, or garlic and herbs, or shallots and chives, my mouth waters. The best thing you could ever have at a local market is a fresh pretzel from a bakery with Bavarian Mustard Nut Monkey. Yumm-o!
So now you know! Cashews aren’t really nuts, but they’re still delicious and nutritious.
If you want to get your hands on Nut Monkey and give your taste buds a real treat, you can find Amy every Sunday at a farmer’s market in Ausin, TX. Check her socials for more details by searching Nut Monkey on Facebook or Instagram.
I already have my next unknown fact ready to research, so join me on Tuesday to see what I’ve uncovered and wondered…How did I miss that?
