Cashew Nut Processing

Cashew nut can be an alternative to fight poverty in many developing countries around the world. It can hold the key for sustainable growth for many rural families in developing economies. This technical brief contains detailed information on cashew nut processing. Cashew nut processing begins when the grown and raw cashew fruits are kept in the sun to dry that removes the excess moisture that prolongs the storage of cashew nuts. It is then stored in bags and is ready to be processed. There are four stages of cashew nut processing: Steam roasting: This process involves the removal of the outer shell that contains the corrosive oil which is not suitable for human consumption. Shell cutting: In this process, the roasted cashew nuts are individually placed to remove it from the outer shell resulting in a soft inner shell of cashews. This process requires highly skilled labor for maximum efficiency. Peeling: This process involves the removal of the inner shell to produce the white nuts. This is a time-consuming process as individual nuts are individually peeled after which they are sent for the grading. Grading: In this process, the various cashews kernel are sort and separated into different grades. The grading process has to be done with international standard in practice hence one has to maintain the quality. After the grading process, the cashew kernels are sent for packaging Packaging: In this process, the cashew kernel is kept in various plastic bags depending on the size of the cashews and are sent to the market for sales. Download the technical brief to learn more about cashew nut processing.