Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

The syndicated column "Ask Dr. Knowledge" addresses the question of what a cashew shell looks like, with scary results. Since I can't find the column on line (i.e., it wasn't in the top ten Google results) here are some other answers to a question you'll wish you hadn't asked:

Detailed description of the nut and how to harvest it (with sightly pornographic photo)

Edible poison ivy ("Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac belong to the cashew family...")

Why cashew harvesters aren't paid enough ("So, handling the shell or eating a nut with shell oil on it can cause the reaction. ")

You really don't want to touch the stuff between the two layers of shell ("...extremely caustic and can cause blistering of the skin upon contact ... is used in the making ... varnish, insecticide, paint, and even rocket lubricant"

If you have poison ivy, don't eat cashews ("Sometimes people who are very sensitive to poison ivy will also react to mangoes and cashews while they are suffering from the rash ...")

Cashew nut dermatitis ("During April 1982, a poison ivy-like dermatitis affected 54 persons who consumed cashew nut pieces sold by a Little League organization...")

Don't buy el cheapo brands ("While cashews purchased from a reputable store are free of risk, poorly processed cashews retaining traces of oil from the shells can cause allergic dermatitis.")

The bright side of the cashew shell ("One of the best of fuels...")