The forgotten treasure of the cashew fruit – why we must harness its potential

When we think of cashews, we usually only think of the kernels – crunchy, versatile, and rich in nutrients. But have you ever wondered what actually happens to the fruit they contain?

Each cashew kernel grows on a fruit called a cashew apple. It's about the size of an apple, juicy, and packed with vitamins. Botanically speaking, the kernel isn't actually a nut, but the seed of this fruit. And the exciting thing is: the cashew apple is anything but waste – it's a true superfood.

A treasure that ends up in the trash

The global demand for cashew nuts is rising rapidly, with millions of tons produced every year. However, the cashew fruit itself is largely discarded. This isn't because it's inedible, but because it's extremely delicate, difficult to transport, and the growing regions often lack the infrastructure for its efficient processing.

The result: Of the approximately 40 million tons of cashew fruit produced annually, over 98% are discarded – even though they contain five to six times more vitamin C than oranges and provide valuable micronutrients.

An analysis by GfL (Gesellschaft für Lebensmittelforschung mbH – Society for Food Research) in Germany has confirmed: Our cashew juice contains 168 mg of vitamin C per 100 ml, which is 210% of the recommended daily intake. This means it can officially be labeled "High in Vitamin C." A natural energy boost, almost like a vitamin C shot , straight from nature.

A global contradiction

While billions of tons of valuable fruit go unused, over two billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies – that's roughly a quarter of the global population. At the same time, one in nine people is malnourished. This stark contrast illustrates just how wasteful we are with resources.

Our mission: To make the cashew fruit visible

This is precisely where AKOUA comes in. With our AKOUA brand, we aim to rescue the millions of tons of cashew fruit, transform them into valuable products, and provide women on plantations in Benin with an additional source of income. In doing so, we not only create sustainable added value but also improve livelihoods in the region.

The following products have already emerged from this:

Pure cashew juice – 100% fruit juice, no additives
Cashew juice concentrate – as a natural sweetener with 70° Brix

An appeal to the food industry

Most consumers only see the cashew nut in the supermarket – the fruit behind it remains invisible. Yet it is precisely this fruit that holds enormous potential for new, healthy and sustainable products.

Therefore, our appeal: Let's work together to bring the cashew fruit out of the shadows.
Let's show that innovation can be not only economically, but also ecologically and socially beneficial.