Cashew nuts are a prized ingredient in the Turkish market where traditional culinary methods meet contemporary methods to form great dishes. Cashew nuts are valued within the food industry due to their sweet and creamy flavor. They are also very crunchy and can be consumed as roasted, salted or raw nuts without additives.
Raw cashew nuts are not consumed straight from the farm. They have to undergo several processes in order to remove a toxic substance called Urushiol which is found in raw cashew nuts. Urushiol is so toxic that it is not advisable to get into contact with your skin.
Cashew nuts are also ranked among the most expensive nuts due to the various processes they undergo before being ready for consumption. High production rates increase the price of the final commodity.
Cashew Price in Turkey
In 2022, cashew imports into Turkey were worth approximately 75 million US Dollars. This was an increase from the previous year and yet another record high volume.
The sharpest climb was from 2013 to 2014 when the import value rose from approximately 7 million US Dollars to approximately 21 million US Dollars. This was an increase of over 174%.
Here are the total values in import of cashews from Turkey between 2013 and 2022.
Cashew Nuts Price per kg in Turkey
The price of a kilo of cashew nuts in Turkey varies between 182 Turkish Lire (6 USD) and 303 Turkish Lire (10 USD). This is based on the average import price per kg. The wholesale price can go as high as 485 Turkish Lire (16 USD).
You can purchase cashew nuts from various outlets in the country such as grocery stores and supermarkets. You can also get them in local shops especially if you are looking for a small amount of cashews to snack on. There are also online shops which offer a wide variety of cashew nuts to consumers.
Cashews Turkey
The importance of a cashew nut to Turkish cuisine cannot be overlooked since it plays a special role as a key ingredient to most dishes. It is used as a filling in baklava which is a popular Turkish dessert made of layers of filo pastry, nuts and honey syrup. It is also added to other Turkish desserts including kadayif and helva.
Cashews are also coated in sugar syrup or caramelized and served as sweets or candies. They can be grounded and used as a base for creamy sauces and dips. Additionally, they are added to Turkish rice to add crunch and flavor.
The uses of cashew nuts in the culinary and confectionery industry are numerous and play a huge role in promoting healthy living among individuals.
Cashew Nuts Turkey
The production of cashew nuts in turkey is very minimal hence it is not enough to sustain the country. Turkey majorly imports its cashews in order to meet the ever growing demand for the commodity. There are a variety of cashews which have different roles in different industries hence varying prices.
Whole cashews are the most expensive since they remain intact. W-180 is referred to as the King of cashews due to its large size and is wholly intact. W-210 is slightly smaller than W-189 but it is till large compared to the other sizes. W-240 is cheaper than the first two since it slightly smaller. W-320 is the most widely distrusted and easier to find, it is also cheaper hence most people are comfortable purchasing it. Lastly, W-450 is the smallest and cheapest whole cashew hence a good for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on cashew nuts.
Cashew pieces are generally cheaper than whole cashews and are mainly preferred as ingredients unlike whole cashews which are preferable for snacking.
Final Note
Cashew nuts are good nuts for your health and consumption of the nuts in Turkey is set to increase in the near future.