Cashews – from Central and South America, now India and East Africa produce the largest exports. They are most unusual in that the nut grow outside and on the bottom if its fruit. The tree is relative of the poison ivy family, the nut is covered with  poisinous skin that must be burned off before handling, and then they are boiled to remove a second skin that even today in mostly removed by hand (because of the complex shape). No wonder they are expensive.

They can aggravate pitta and some people have allergic reaction to them. They are nourishing, oily and good for anemia, weaken and sexual debility. They relieve pain, soften the skin, moisten the lungs and passage ways and can be good with some chronic skin diseases.