Evergreen
Field Heritage Ltd is
duly registered by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Corporate
Affairs Commission and duly certified as an exporter by Nigerian Export
Promotion Council. The company is located at Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. We
deal in products like Cashew Nut, Wonderful Kola, Bitter Kola, and Palm Oil,
Charcoal. We are a member of Successedge Exporters Network.
Delicately sweet yet
crunchy and delicious cashew nut packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and
vitamins that are essential for robust health. Cashew, or “caju” in Portuguese,
is one of the popular ingredients in sweet as well savory dishes worldwide.
Botanically, cashew is
an average sized tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family,
of the genus: Anacardium. Scientific name: Anacardium
occidentale.
Cashew tree bears many;
edible, pear-shaped false fruits or “accessory fruits'” called "cashew
apples." Cashew nut which is a “true-fruit,” firmly attaching to the
bottom end of cashew-apple, appearing like a clapper in the bell. Botanically,
this tiny, bean shaped, gray “true fruit” is a drupe, featuring hard outer
shell enclosing a single edible kernel known commercially as “cashew nut.”
Structurally, this
Cashew "drupe" is made up of outer, hard shell and inner, edible
kernel. Cashew shell composes of a toxic phenolic resin, urushiol;
a potent caustic skin irritant toxin and therefore should be eliminated. In the
processing units, the whole cashew is treated under the high flame to destroy
urushiol resin. Thus roasted cashew becomes safe to handle with bare hands by
workers, who then mechanically shell the nuts to extract underlying edible
cashew kernel.
Cashew nut measures
about an inch in length, 1/2 inches in diameter, and kidney or bean shape, with
a smooth surface and smooth curvy pointed tip. Each nut splits into two halves
as in legumes. The cream white kernel features firm yet crunchy texture and
sweet, buttery flavor.
Health benefits of Cashew nuts
· Cashews are high in calories. 100 g of nuts
provide 553 calories. They packed with soluble dietary fiber, vitamins,
minerals and numerous health-promoting phytochemicals that help protect from
diseases and cancers.
· They are rich in “heart-friendly”
monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic, and palmitoleic acids. These
essential fatty acids help lower harmful LDL-cholesterol while increasing good
HDL cholesterol in the blood. Research studies suggest that the Mediterranean
diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids contribute to preventing
coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
· Cashew nuts are abundant sources of
essential minerals. Manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium,
zinc, and selenium are especially concentrated in them. A handful of cashew
nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these minerals and may help
prevent deficiency diseases. Selenium is an important
micronutrient, which functions as a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes such
as Glutathione peroxidases, one of the most powerful antioxidants
in the body. Copper is a cofactor for many vital enzymes,
including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals
function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Zinc is
a co-factor for many enzymes that regulate growth and development, gonadal
function, digestion, and DNA (nucleic acid) synthesis.
· Cashews are also good in many essential vitamins
such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin,
and thiamin (vitamin B-1). 100 g nuts provide 0.147 mg or 32% of daily
recommended levels of pyridoxine. Pyridoxine reduces the risk of
homocystinuria, and sideroblastic anemia. Niacin helps prevent
"pellagra" or dermatitis. Additionally, these vitamins are essential
for the metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at the cellular level.
· Further, they also hold a small amount of zeaxanthin,
an important pigment flavonoid antioxidant, which selectively absorbed into the
retinal macula lutea in the eyes. It is thought to provide antioxidant and
protective UV ray filtering functions and helps prevent age-related macular
degeneration (ARMD) in the older adults.
Selection and storage
Cashew nuts can be
available in the market year round. In the stores, only shelled cashew kernels
sold since the shell contains phenolic resin, urushiol, which
is a potent skin irritant toxin.
In the stores, one can
find raw, salted, sweetened or candied cashews. Buy shelled nuts that feature
bright cream-white, compact, uniform and feel heavy in hand. They should be
free from cracks, mold, and spots and free of rancid smell.
At home, store cashew
kernels inside an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator to avoid them
turn rancid. Under ideal conditions, fresh nuts should last for 5-6 months.
Culinary uses
Cashews have crunchy,
buttery texture with a pleasant sweet fruity aroma.
Here are some serving
tips:
· Cashews can be enjoyed as a snack as they are.
They can also be eaten salted or sweetened.
· Cashews are nutty yet pleasantly sweet in taste.
They can be relished as a garnish in various kinds of sweets and desserts.
· Cashews, along with almonds and other
dry fruits, are being used in savory rice dishes Hyderbad-biriyani,
rice-pulao...etc, and in curry (kaaju-shahi-paneer) preparations in Indian,
Persian, Pakistani, and Middle-Eastern regions.
· Split or crushed cashew along
with almonds, pistachio is often sprinkled over desserts,
particularly sundaes, and other confectionaries to enhance flavor.
· The nuts widely employed in the confectionery,
as an addition to biscuits, sweets, and cakes.
· Cashew apples are among popular fruits; eaten on their own in many regions
around the world. They are also being used to prepare healthy drinks.
Cashew nut is an
exportable commodity and we have the capacity and are willing to export it to
any country in the world.
You can send us an email
on adegeyeadedayo@yahoo.com or call us on +2348033373128
