Cashew Apples

When we got to Panama I was surprised to see a fruit known locally as marañón which our local jelly factory uses to make delicious jelly. This strange looking fruit has a thingy on the end which looks strangely like . . . a cashew, which in fact is what it is. I’ve always loved cashews but had no idea where they came from. The “apple” is actually what is called a “false fruit”, and the actual fruit is the seed that  can eventually be processed into what we know as cashew nuts.  The seed is surrounded by a double shell containing a dermatogenic phenolic resin, urushiol, a potent skin irritant toxin also found in the related poison ivy.

We see a lot of cashew trees along the road on our way to Boca Chica.

3.1 million tons of cashew nuts per year are produced by primarily Vietnam, Nigeria, India and Brazil.

 

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We are making progress on the house.  Painting is underway, and I have been busy helping to install cabinets, and running back and forth to David – 40 minutes away – to order appliances, light fixtures, etc.  I am riding herd on the contractor and crew so I need to be “on the job” every morning at 7 AM, which is keeping me busy.  Hopefully next week I’ll have some more pictures to update you.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you are going to build in Panama you need to be here to supervise.  If you’re going to attempt to build long distance you are nuts (not cashews either)!