photo #8526959

Ever wondered where cashews really come from? Spoiler alert: they're not nuts! Cashews actually start as fruits from a large evergreen tree that thrives in the tropics. The tree produces vibrant red flowers that give way to juicy, apple-like structures—but these aren’t the real fruit. The true cashew “fruit” is the kidney-shaped formation at the end of these so-called apples. Before they become the delicious snack we know, cashews have to be carefully roasted to remove toxins in their outer shell, which can be as irritating as poison ivy! So, the next time you pop a cashew, remember the wild journey it took to get to your table!