Cashew nut is the common name for the cashew seed. As a matter of fact, it is a kidney-shaped seed attached to the cashew apple. The other unique thing about a cashew nut is that it has two shells. These shells are separated by a red-brown, oily resin.
The edible part of a cashew nut is revealed after cracking the inner shell. An irrefutable fact about a cashew apple is that it produces just one nut. When cashew apples ripen, they fall from the tree onto the ground and then harvested. Once they are gathered up, the cashew nuts are separated from the apples.
Cashew nuts contain nutrients necessary for your heart’s health. They are a superb source of unsaturated fats which help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and boost HDL (good) cholesterol. Since a raised LDL can clog your arteries and lead to a heart attack, eating cashews can improve levels of HDL which carries bad cholesterol to your liver so it can be flushed out of your body.
Arginine is an amino acid predominantly found in cashew nuts. This amino acid makes nitric oxide which expands blood vessels and supports blood flow. Furthermore, arginine plays an important role in cell division, wound healing and immunity.
Cashew in Tanzania
Today, cashew nuts thrive in Tanzania. Cashew orchards dot the southern part of the country. Moreover, Southern Tanzania produces more than half of the nation’s cashew crop.
Although cashew nuts originally came from Brazil, they can now be found in Tanzania. The East African nation grows cashews because of Portuguese traders who brought the seeds to Africa during the 16th century. On one hand, cashews came early to Tanzania. On the other hand, commercial production began in the early 1970s.
The cashew sector in Tanzania has undergone major changes. After a near collapse in the late 1980s, economic reforms launched in the mid-1990s brought liberalization in the sector. The government of Tanzania allows private companies to buy and sell cashew nuts.
Tanzania Cashew Nuts
Tanzania is among the top five exporters of cashew nuts in the world. In 2022, Tanzania shipped out just above 200,000 tons of cashew nuts. It is an increase of 50% from the previous year.
Over the last 10 years, cashew exports from Tanzania have enjoyed steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2018 to 2019 at over 500%. The peak volume was in the year 2017 at 331,622 tons.
Here is the export volume of cashew nuts from Tanzania between 2013 and 2022
Cashew Nuts Export
Tanzania is among the top three exporters of cashew nuts in Africa. In addition, cashew nuts are one of the leading agricultural exports from Tanzania according to Statista. Even though there is no official data from the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The major destinations for Tanzania cashew nuts include:
- Vietnam
- India
- China
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The Netherlands
The other destinations are:
- United States (US)
- Saudi Arabia
- Sweden
Tanzania takes cashew nuts abroad through its main sea ports. Cashew nuts leave the country as sea freight by way of Port of Mtwara or Port of Dar es Salaam. These sea ports have modern container terminals.
The other exit point in Tanzania is its main airport. Cashew nuts leave the country as air freight by way of Julius Nyerere International Airport. This airport has a huge cargo terminal. Yet, this is only for processed cashew nuts.
Cashew Nuts Exporters in Tanzania
The government of Tanzania regulates the export of cashew nuts primarily through the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT). This body ensures that Tanzanian cashews sold in overseas markets are of the right quality. While the Ministry of Agriculture controls the production of cashew nuts, the Ministry of Industry and Trade controls its exportation.
Cashew nuts exporters in Tanzania must meet the following requirements:
- They must be registered by CBT
- Have a buying and export permit from CBT
- Appoint a clearing agent to clear goods and book space with a shipping line
- Have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) certificate from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
- Get a TRA assessment document
- Have a commercial invoice
- Have a packing list
- Have a phytosanitary certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture
- Have a radioactivity analysis certificate from the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)
- Pay an export levy for raw cashew nuts at the rate of 15% of FOB value or 160 US Dollars per ton whichever is higher
- Get a Tanzania Single Administrative Document (TANSAD) from TRA after handing in relevant custom documents
- Pass through consignment inspection and stuffing
- Get a shipping order from TRA
- Get a TRA release order
- Pay port charges to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA)
- Have an EAC certificate of origin
Tanzanian Cashews
Cashew nuts grown in Tanzania go through several steps before they get on supermarket shelves or open-air market stands in different parts of the world. As a matter of fact, transportation of these nuts from the warehouse or processing facility to the retailer is done carefully. It is as a result of detailed planning that ensures Tanzanian cashew nuts are still in good condition after long journeys.
Cashew nuts in Tanzania are dried immediately after harvesting. They are dried in the sun for 2-3 days to reduce moisture from 25% to below 9%. This prevents spoilage and retains their quality especially flavor.
Storage life of raw cashew nuts depends on quality of the nut and environmental conditions during storage. Suitable storage conditions are in the relative humidity of 67% at 30°C. The methods used include:
- Proper ventilation of the warehouse to maintain safe moisture levels
- Storing nuts in new or fumigated gunny bags to prevent insect infestation
- Stacking gunny bags to a certain height to prevent dampness on the lower bags
- Putting space between stacks in a row to allow free movement of air
In contrast, improper post-harvest handling and storage of Tanzanian cashews leads to faster deterioration. Environmental factors such as high temperature and moisture can cause growth of fungus that produces toxins like aflatoxin. Furthermore, a cashew nut can go bad faster after insect or mechanical damage due to the fats it contains.
Cashew Nuts Suppliers in Tanzania
Here is a top exporter of Tanzania cashew
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of cashew nuts and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Tanzanian cashews. We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.