noun The cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree in the Anacardiaceae family, native to South America. It produces both the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. While it can grow up to 14 meters (46 feet) tall, dwarf varieties—reaching about 6 meters (20 feet)—are preferred for their quicker maturity and higher yields. The edible cashew nut is enjoyed as a snack, used in cooking, or made into products like cashew cheese and cashew butter.
