Because cashew nuts are a seasonal fruit. But it comes at a high cost. One of the reasons cashew nuts are popular around the world is their nutritional value. Multiple studies praise cashew nuts for their effects, including lowering harmful cholesterol, boosting the immune system, and strengthening muscles and nerves.
The health benefits of cashew nuts make them a popular snack even in times of surplus. Why are cashew nuts so expensive? Cashew nuts are very expensive for several reasons. For example, cashew nuts are expensive, since they are imported products. Secondly, the manufacture and processing of these nuts is dangerous.
Finally, demand for these nuts has increased over the years. In addition, manufacturers must roast cashew nuts to increase their shelf life and help them withstand long-term shipping and storage. More and more cashew kernels are being offered without any kind of addition, as well as different flavors of roasting. Many studies recommend consuming cashew nuts, as it promotes a number of health benefits, such as lowering harmful cholesterol, developing a better immune system, and strengthening muscles and nerves.
Compared to other nuts, cashew nuts are still relatively affordable even though they have many factors that make them expensive. The availability of cashew nuts is lower than that of other types of nuts, since they only grow in a certain type of soil. The cashew nuts are then roasted to remove any traces of toxins and the last process is done completely by hand, which involves removing the shell containing tannins, which requires experience and this is another reason why cashew nut processing cannot be fully automated, most of the steps involve labor. As Harvard Health points out, eating cashew nut snacks can lower LDL cholesterol (the type related to cardiovascular disease) by 5% (according to a study).
The raw cashew nut (known as RCN) is covered by a shell that contains toxic oils, such as anacardic acid. Roasting cashew nuts to destroy toxins is also dangerous, as toxins are released into the air. Cashew nuts can only grow in tropical climates, which excludes the vast majority of countries in the world. While the lean toward veganism has led to an increase in demand for nuts and nut butters, however, it is surprising to see how peanuts and cashews have a similar creamy texture, but the price of cashew nuts is almost five times the price of peanuts.
The high demand for cashew kernels is likely due to changes in consumers' eating habits, including increasing demand for healthier foods, snack options and plant-based sources of protein. On the positive side, the report notes, West African countries are stepping up their efforts to create larger cashew nut processing facilities; however, it will likely take years of those efforts before buyers receive lower prices. To further complicate matters, it takes two to three months for a cashew nut to produce a cashew seed (also known as cashew nuts) suitable for consumption. Cashews are loved for their flavor and texture, but the extraction process is so difficult and dangerous that it can be dangerous if touched with bare hands.
