Cashews are actually seeds, not fruits, even though they grow inside a fleshy structure.
Understanding the Cashew's True Nature
The confusion arises from the way cashews grow. Let's break it down:
- Drupes: According to the reference, the cashew plant's fruit is classified as a drupe. This means it has a fleshy outer layer, and a hard shell covering a seed inside.
- What we eat: The part we consume, the cashew "nut," is actually the seed found inside the shell of the drupe.
- Botanical Definition: In botanical terms, a true fruit develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. The cashew nut does not develop this way.
Key Points about Cashews
Here's a summary in a table format:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Plant Part | Seed |
| Botanical Type | Drupe |
| Edible Part | The seed inside the shell |
| Context | The seed is protected by a shell and develops as part of a drupe |
Therefore, while the entire cashew structure is associated with a fruit, the cashew itself, the part we eat, is technically a seed.
