Cashew nut

The cashew originated in northeastern Brazil, where indigenous peoples used both the nut and the fruit long before European contact. Portuguese colonizers introduced the plant to India and West Africa in the 16th century, where it thrived in tropical coastal climates. By the mid-20th century, India and the Ivory Coast had become the world's largest cashew producers. While the nut dominated commercial markets, Brazilian perfumers continued working with the entire cashew fruit — the apple and nut together — a tradition that gives the country a unique place in cashew perfumery. The fruit's flesh carries tropical, slightly acid notes reminiscent of guava, offering a different aromatic dimension than the roasted nut itself. Today, with 3.9 million tons harvested globally in 2023, cashew occupies a growing niche in modern perfumery as a gourmand and nutty ingredient.