Unripe cashew nut. Image 1 of 2. Native to South America, the cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics. Cashew trees produce a fruit, known as an 'apple' (centre), and a nut (lower centre). The nut forms before the fruit swells and ripens, which takes two months. Once harvested, the fruit is often discarded in favour of the nut, although it can be used to make jellies, jams and juice. The nut must be removed from its shell with care, as the shell contains an allergen that can cause dermatitis. Cashew nuts are used in a variety of sweet and savoury recipes. Photographed in Grenada. See B790/238 for a ripe cashew nut.