Cashew If the Brazilian National flag were to include a fruit, what would it be? In other words, which is the most Brazilian of the fruits? The most obvious? The coconut, it may seem, but it isn’t so. It was imported from Africa – and by the way it is a seed, not a fruit. What about the mango? It wouldn’t do, either. It was brought from India. The perfect choice would be the cashew. It grew vigorously in the beaches and backlands of the Northeast and the forests of the North when the Portuguese arrived in 1500. It is attractive and resists droughts; it spreads on sandy, arid soil and is capable of reforesting the area where it grows. We make use of everything from the cashew apple: the pulp, the juice and the nut. Its dry pulpy residue is an excellent natural fertilizer.

(Ícaro Brasil. October, 2001)

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