We’re just nuts about cashews and we bet you’re nuts about our cashew turtles! Layers of chocolatey nutty goodness come in plain dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate with a hint of sea salt to enhance the decadent creamy chocolate flavor. While you’re sinking your teeth into one … or three of those tasty turtles, we’ll tell you a tale about the cashew nut which actually comes … from an apple.
This isn’t your ordinary apple. But to get there, we’ve got to return to the cashew tree. Cashew trees are tropical evergreens that are native to Brazil and Southeast Asia. They can grow from 20 – 46 feet tall and are related to pistachios, mangoes, and poison ivy. Cashew trees grow a stunning red false fruit called apples. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill apples, though. They are called false fruits because the fruit’s flesh doesn’t come from the plant’s ovary but from a different part of the flower. Cashew apples themselves decay rather quickly, so they are frequently harvested and juiced, adding a unique flavor to fruit spreads and liquors.
Cashews themselves, are actually seeds that grow from apples. Usually a greenish-gray color before roasted, the seed is wrapped in a toxic double shell. The seed is harvested with the apple, and undergoes a thorough drying, steaming, freezing, and boiling process to remove the poisonous outer shell and make them safe for consumption. It is when they are roasted that they turn that delightful light brown color you see in our yummy turtles!
Cashews are rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats and are believed to reduce bad cholesterol. And covering them in deliciously creamy chocolate is good for making us feel happy! So get your hands on a few of our cashew turtles today!
