Cashew Nuts
The quality of the edible cashew is directly proportional to the quality of the raw cashew nuts. With experience in processing, the company understands the needs of the processors. This enables Pre Agro to procure the best quality raw cashew nuts.
Origin & Consumption pattern
The Cashew tree (Anacardium Occidentale), is a tropical evergreen native to the Americas but is now widely cultivated in Asia and Africa. It is a short, stocky, low-spreading, evergreen tropical tree. Four centuries ago, the adventurous Portuguese came sailing down the Indian coasts and brought with them this valuable treenut “Cashew”, the Favourite nut of the world. Cashew came, conquered and took deep roots in the entire coastal region of India . Cashew found the Indian soil more homely than its homeland. Later it spread as a popular crop to other parts of India.
Seed is found in the lower portion of the cashew apple. Cashew in its natural form is a soft, white, meaty kernel covered by a testa membrane contained within the thick hard outer shells of kidney shaped seeds which protects the tasty kernel from the ravages of nature until it is processed.
India is the largest grower, processor and exporter in the world. It is also interesting to understand, that the new statistics of consumer interests done during 2009 has proved India is also the number one consumer of cashew kernels in the world overtaking USA.
Cashew kernels is consumed all over the world as a premium snack and nowadays more used as a preferred ingredient due to its excellent flavor and unique texture in large array of foods like sweets , dates, ice-creams and so on . It can be dry or oil roasted, salted, coated with chocolate, spices, honey etc.
Cashew nut nutrition facts
Delicately sweet yet crunchy and delicious cashew nut is packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for robust health. Cashew, or “caju” in Portuguese, is one of the popular ingredients in sweet as well savory dishes worldwide.
Botanically, cashew is an average sized tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, in the genus: Anacardium. Scientific name: Anacardium occidental.
The cashew tree is native to Brazil’s Amazon rain forest. It spread all over the planet by Portuguese explorers and today, it is cultivated at commercial scale in Brazil, Vietnam, India and in many African countries.
Cashew tree bears numerous, edible, pear shaped false fruits or “accessory fruits’” called “cashew apples.” Cashew nut which actually is a “true-fruit”, firmly attaching to bottom end of cashew-apple, appearing like a clapper in the bell. Botanically, this tiny, bean shaped, grey “true fruit” is a drupe, featuring hard outer shell enclosing a single edible kernel known commercially as “cashew nut.”
Its exterior shell composes a phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent caustic skin irritant toxin. In the processing units, this outer shell is roasted under high flame in order to destroy urushiol resin, and only then underlying edible cashew kernel is extracted. Cashew nut measures about an inch in length, 1/2 inches in diameter, and kidney or bean shape, with smooth curvy pointed tip. Each nut splits into two equal halves as in legumes. Cashews featurec ream white color with the firm yet delicate texture and smooth surface.
Health benefits of Cashew nuts
– Cashews are high in calories. 100 g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are packed with soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers.
– They are rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated-fatty acids like oleic, and palmitoleic acids. These essential fatty acids help lower harmful LDL-cholesterol while increasing good HDL cholesterol in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
– Cashew nuts are abundant sources of essential minerals. Minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium are concentrated in these nuts. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these minerals and may help prevent deficiency diseases. Selenium is an important micronutrient, which functions as a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidases, one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body. Copper is a cofactor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Zinc is a co-factor for many enzymes that regulate growth and development, gonadal function, digestion, and DNA (nucleic acid) synthesis.
– Cashews are also good in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). 100 g nuts provide 0.147 mg or 32% of daily-recommended levels of pyridoxine. Pyridoxine reduces the risk of homocystinuria, and sideroblastic anemia. Niacin helps prevent “pellagra” or dermatitis. Additionally, these vitamins are essential for metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at the cellular level.
– Further, the nuts are also hold a small amount of zea-xanthin, an important pigment flavonoid antioxidant, which selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes. It is thought to provide antioxidant and protective UV ray filtering functions and helps prevent age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in the elderly.
Selection and storage
Cashew nuts can be available in the market year round. In the stores, only shelled cashew kernels are sold since the shell contains phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent skin irritant toxin.
In the stores, one can find raw, salted, sweetened or candied cashews. Buy shelled nuts that feature bright cream-white, compact, uniform and feel heavy in hand. They should be free from cracks, mold, and spots and free of rancid smell.
At home, store cashew kernels inside an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator in order to avoid them turn rancid. Under ideal conditions, fresh nuts should last for 5-6 months.
Our Value System
Ra Mount is a company with a clear set of values. These include its focus on high quality, well-maintained taste, a hard-won reputation in the industry, and a loyal and family-orientated workforce.
At Ra Mount our Vision, Mission, Goals and our Philosophy is simply guided by our Value System that’s includes
• Commitment to Quality
• Customer’s Satisfaction
• Respect and Trust
• Fair Trade Practices
• Social Responsibility and Business Ethics
Indeed our guiding philosophy proudly makes us say that our “Cashews are Quoted with Values”
We are into sourcing and marketing of raw cashew nuts from Africa & Asia, to supply our prospective clients all over the world. The Cashew tree ( Anacardium Occidentale) is a tropical evergreen native to the Americas but is now widely cultivated in Asia and Africa. Cashew is its natural form is a soft, white, meaty kernel contained within the hard shells of kidney shaped, raw cashew nuts. Cashew is consumed all over the world as a snack or used as a food ingredient.
Infrastructure & Process
Infrastructure
With our Indo-African presence and professional team in place, we can ensure the quick supply of high quality raw cashew nuts, which are fully dried and Un-Mixed. We efficiently manage every stage of Raw Cashew Nut from Farm to factory as we have;
• Registered Office in Mumbai and Owned Warehouses in Vasai, Maharashtra.
• Allied Channel offices / partner in every African country.
• A Team of highly trained Quality Inspectors.
• Quality Inspection toolkit and scientific equipments.
• Drying Yards and Warehouses.
• Packing, Stuffing and Loading team.
• Transporters, Transistors and Best Shipping Lines.
• Local Clearing agents in India.
• Forwarding, Warehousing and Storage Facilities.
• Logistics partner for timely distribution and delivery.
Process
Our Raw Cashew Nuts is appreciated by customers India wide for their consistent quality. We undertake detail process at every stage from Farm to Factory. Hand Picked naturally fallen raw cashews with 15-20% moisture are collected by the farmers.
• Inspection: our passionate team of highly trained inspectors on site diligently checks randomly selected raw cashew nuts in order to determine nut count and outturn.
• Drying: Raw cashews are sun dried for 1-2 days until moisture level comes down to 6-8%.
• Packing & Storage: Dried cashew nuts are packed in woven gunny sacks and stored in well ventilated rooms with giving enough space between stacks for air circulation.
• Loading & Stuffing: Thoroughly inspected dry containers are loaded and stuffed with approx. 80 kg gunny bags containing dried raw cashew nuts. In line card boards and moisture bags are adequately placed to preserve and maintain quality of raw cashew nuts. Once loaded the said containers are fumigated, sealed and weighted at Weigh Bridge.
• Shipping and Documentation: Our experience clearing house agents in Africa at loading port handles loading of goods with the best and fastest shipping line for timely delivery at best competitive rates.
• Payment and Documentation: Our esteemed customers make payment as per agreed terms and conditions and takes over the ownership of goods.
• Quality Assurance: Depending on terms and conditions for quality of raw cashew nuts third party inspectors from SGS Company and RBS agency withdrawn random samples and send quality and weight certificates as per requirements.
Export of Cashew Kernels
(i)The process
Stages of processing
Raw cashew nuts (Seeds) —Roasting (at 100 C for 10 mins) — Shelling —
Drying (In Borma for 12 hours at 80 C) —- Cooling —- Peeling —Grading —
Cashew kernels —-Packing
(ii)Grades & Specifications
Specifications of Indian cashew kernels are as per international standards. We can offer the following grades maintaining quality parameters as per CEPC / AFI standards according to the requirement of the customer/buyer.
White Wholes
W180
W210
W240
W320
W450
W500
Scorched Wholes
SW
SW180
SW210
SW240
SW320
SW450
SW500
Dessert Wholes
SSW (Scorched wholes seconds)
DW (Dessert wholes)
Brokens
White pieces
B (Butts)
S (Splits)
LWP (Large white pieces)
SWP (Small white pieces)
BB (Baby Bits)
Scorched small pieces
SB (Scorched butts)
SS (Scorched splits)
SP (Scorched pieces)
SSP (Scorched small pieces)
Dessert pieces
SPS (Scorched pieces seconds)
DP (Dessert pieces)