Today, November 22nd, is National Cashew Day.

Cashews come from the cashew tree and are an oily tree nut. Because cashews, unlike similar oily tree nuts, contain about 10% starch by weight, they are used for thickening a variety of water based dishes and can commonly be found in many Asian dishes, even though the tree itself originated in Brazil.

Cashews are also a popular snack food, being eaten raw, roasted and salted. They are a good source of antioxidants, like similar nuts, and contain a number of trace minerals. They are sold to the end consumer without their shells, as the shells are toxic.

Image: Morguefile