The Goan cashew refers to the variety of the

cashew Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree ''Anacardium occidentale'', in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as t ...

fruit grown in the

Indian state India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 subnational entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 800 districts and smaller administrative divisions by the respe ...

Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

, which is one of the major cashew-growing Indian states. In the entire state of Goa, the cashew crop spans approximately 55,302 hectares, yielding an estimated 27,070 tonnes annually. Goa Kaju or Goa Caju are variations of the same name. Under its

Geographical Indication A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town or region). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, is inten ...

tag, it is referred to as "Goa Cashew (Kaju or Caju)". Goa cashew is the state fruit of Goa and is a prized commercial

horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

crop. Its exceptional kernel quality and inherently organic plantations make it highly sought after.

Name

It is named after its place of origin, the state of Goa, located on the west coast of Goa while Kaju means Cashew - in the local state language of

Konkani __NOTOC__ Konkani may refer to: Language * Konkani language is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Konkan region of India. * Konkani alphabets, different scripts used to write the language **Konkani in the Roman script, one of the scripts used to ...

while Caju means the same in

Portuguese language Portuguese ( or ) is a Western Romance language of the Indo-European language family originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tom� ...

. The Portuguese brought it from

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, formerly ''

Estado da Índia Portuguesa Administrative divisions (also administrative units, administrative regions, subnational entities, or constituent states, as well as many similar generic terms) are geographical areas into which a particular independent sovereign state is divi ...

'', between 1560 and 1565. From there, it spread throughout Southeast Asia and eventually Africa. It was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese approximately 450 years ago, was initially intended for soil conservation and wasteland development through afforestation. However, its significant economic value remained unrealized for nearly a century. It wasn't until 100 years after its introduction that the commercial potential of cashew nuts became apparent, gradually elevating its importance. The processing technology for Goa Cashew has a rich history, dating back around 350 years.

Features

Physical characteristics

* Outer shell: Grey-colored, slightly fat * Inner seed (Cashew Kernel/ Nut): Ivory white

Culinary significance

Goa Cashew nuts are an integral part of Goan cuisine, particularly in: * Sweets and curry recipes * Goa Biya Bhaji, a famous local dish * Snacking, adding nutty crunch, texture, and flavor

Health benefits

Goa Cashew nuts provide: * Substantial energy for health-conscious individuals * Relief from recurring migraines due to Magnesium's relaxing effect on blood vessels

Unique features

* Taste * Enjoyed plain or in recipes, savory to sweet * Large size cashew nuts unique to Goa

Economic significance

* "Poor man's crop" and "rich man's favorite snack" globally * Widely used in Goan culinary, including cashew apples for Feni production * Supports foreign exchange through export, providing high returns to farmers

Tourist favorite

* Tourists visiting Goa ensure they buy Goa Cashew nuts before departing, making it a cherished souvenir.

Geographical indication

It was awarded the

(GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the

Union Government of India The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territo ...

on 3 October 2023 (valid until 25 October 2030). Goa Cashew Manufactures Association (GCMA) from

Panaji Panaji (; , , )also known as Panjim, is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river est ...

proposed the GI registration of Goa Cashew (Kaju or Caju). After filing the application on 26/10/2020, the Cashew was granted the GI tag in 2023 by the Geographical Indication Registry in

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

, making the name "Goa Cashew (Kaju or Caju)" exclusive to the cashews grown in the region. It thus became the 2nd Cashew variety from India after

Vengurla Vengurla is a town in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India just north of Goa. It is surrounded by a semicircular range of hills with lush green foliage mainly of cashew, mango, coconut, and different kinds of berry trees. The hills of Dabh ...

Cashew and the 10th type of goods from Goa to earn the GI tag.

References

{{reflist Goan cuisine Economy of Goa Agriculture in Goa Geographical indications in Goa Cashew production in India