Cashew folktale

Yesterday we received an anonymous comment on our cashew story with a Sri Lankan folktale about the cashew. If this is your comment, thanks for sharing your story– Let us know who you are and we’ll give you credit!

Here is the story:

My mother told me a story (From Sri Lanka) about why the Cashew fruit has its seed on the outside.

Apparently, as God was creating the world he was approached by the Devil, who was upset that he had not been allowed to make something. So, in an act of kindness, God asked the Devil to make a fruit.

The Devil went to work and formed what we now know as the Cashew fruit. He took it to God and said, “See? I can make something just as good as your creations.”

On looking it over, God asked, “But where is the seed?”

The Devil, realising his mistake, just muttered, “Oh, I’ll stick it here.” And with that, placed the seed on the bottom of the fruit.

And there you have it.

[Related: Cashews: the nut you can’t buy in a shell]