How Locals of the Rupununi Shell and Roast Cashew Nuts

First Published: 17th of December, 2017. Region 9, Guyana, South America.

Cashew nuts are a rich and nutrition food product derived from the cashew trees. Through a labor-intensive process, the cashew nut is detached from the cashew fruit which comes from the cashew tree. Cashew trees grow abundantly in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana, and also in neighboring Brazil.

In the year 2017, I visited some residents of the Rupununi Savannahs to learn how the cashew nut is roasted and shelled to produce edible roasted cashew nuts.

The process is described below.

Please note: The method described below is what is used by local residents of the Rupununi in roasting and shelling cashew nuts for personal consumption. Commercial organizations might have different and more refined methods for roasting and shelling cashew nuts.

The raw cashew nuts are placed in a metal drum over a fire.