Cashews

By Kieran

 Cashews


Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, celebrating the importance of the Cashew tree now synonymous with Goa and its culture


Think of Cashews, and memories of Goa soon come flooding, and with good reason
The Portuguese introduced the cashew to control landslides in the monsoon season
 
Before long, this hardy tree rapidly spread throughout the surrounding region
The charms of fiery Cashew Feni, made from the cashew apple juice, are legion
 
The name probably comes from the Sanskrit 'phena', which describes the froth
Feni now has a GI tag to prevent copycats, making Feni a marketing juggernaut
 
The kidney cashew nut is unique, being the only seed to grow outside the apple
Eaten roasted, or blended into a delicious curry it is a a staple

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