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9. Cashew 



Anacardium occidentale 



The red or ^yellow fruit of the cashew tree may be eaten raw 

 or cooked. However, the gray, kidney-shaped nut that hangs 

 from the fruit must first be carefully removed. CAUTION: 

 Care must be taken not to handle the nut with bare hands because 

 its oil irritates the skin and causes swelling. The caustic oil is 

 expelled from the shell by roasting; therefore in roasting the nuts 

 do not allow the smoke to come in contact with the eyes or skin. 



The cashew tree is found growing wild as well as under culti- 

 vation in fields and on the sides of dry, bushy hills throughout 

 most of the Caribbean region. It has pink flowers and yellow 

 green leathery leaves. The fruit flesh is white, spongy, very 

 juicy, and has a sweet yet somewhat peppery flavor. It is also 

 called maranon and jocote maranon. 



