National Cashew Day is a holiday observed annually on November 23rd. It honors and celebrates the nut enjoyed worldwide. This nut is full of antioxidants and trace minerals and is a popular snack in many places. They contain about 21% protein, 25% carbohydrates, and 46% fat, making them healthy to enjoy in moderation.

Common in South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine, cashews can be found in vegetarian and chicken dishes across India, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. In other words, the cashew is a nut that many people will want to celebrate on this holiday.

The History of Cashews

Although cashews were known to native peoples for thousands of years, Europeans first visiting Brazil did not discover them until 1558. Initially, they assumed the nuts were inedible because of the toxicity of the shells. Eventually, they learned that the fruit skin, not the seeds, was the irritant.

The Tupi Indians showed these early Europeans how to roast cashews so that the irritant on the shells was no longer a problem. Europeans liked the cashew and not only ate it but also used the fruit that surrounded the nut to make wine.

The Portuguese brought cashews back to Goa around 1560, and cashew trees were planted throughout India. From the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, cashews also spread across Africa and Southeast Asia. Cashews reached the U.S. around 1905 but did not gain popularity until the 1920s.

This is when the General Food Corporation began shipping them to the U.S. By the time WWII rolled around, however, cashews had become extremely popular, and India was shipping over 20,000 tons annually to the United States.

Facts About Cashews

Want to learn some interesting facts about cashews? Of course, you do; otherwise, why would you be here? We’ve gathered quite a few cashew-related facts that we think you and everyone else reading about National Cashew Day will appreciate. Let’s take a peek at them.

• The U.S. consumes over 90% of the world’s cashew crop.
• Cashew trees grow best in sandy soils.
• Cashews can exacerbate gallbladder and kidney stone issues because they contain oxalates.
• Cashews can be made into cashew butter and cheese.

Observing National Cashew Day

National Cashew Day might sound like a nutty holiday (excuse the pun), but we think everyone will probably want to celebrate it. They can begin by eating cashews right out of the can or bag or using them in their cooking.

There are many great dishes with cashews, including Cream of Cashew Pea Soup, Chicken Cashew Curry, Shrimp & Noodle Soup, Spiced Pumpkin Seed & Cashew Crunch, and Cashew Nut Nog. People can also use the hashtag #NationalCashewDay on their social media accounts to spread the word about this holiday.