Portugal played a big role in the spread of cashew nuts worldwide. The Portuguese are believed to be the first people to encounter the cashew tree in the northeast of Brazil and introduced cashews in other countries like India during the early century through trade.
Portuguese explorers were first fascinated by the cashew apple when they discovered the cashew tree. They marveled at the tree’s unique nature of bearing fruits with the seeds hanging outside the fruit. This probed their curiosity and they started exploring the cashew apple before they even realized the gold that was attached to it.
When they learned of the cashew nut itself, they first encountered the challenges of getting to the real nut since there were no processing techniques then However, with several trials, they learned to separate the cashews successfully and started trading the raw cashews in the countries they visited.
Other European traders loved the nutty flavor of cashews and started looking forward to more cashews. They later discovered that they could use the cashew apple to make wine and other alcoholic drinks and started buying it too.
By the early 50s, Portuguese colonialists started exporting cashew nuts from Brazil to India which had become fond of the nut from which the cashews quickly spread throughout Asia and Africa. Some countries picked up the cultivation of cashews like India and would later start exporting while others opted for importing.
Cashew Price in Portugal
In 2022, cashew imports into Portugal were worth approximately 16 million US Dollars. This was an increase from the previous year, marking another high-value record.
The sharpest climb was from 2016 to 2017 when the import value rose from about 6 million US Dollars to over 10 million US Dollars.
Here are the total values in import of cashews in Portugal between 2013 and 2022.
Cashew Nut Price per kg in Portugal
The price of one kilogram of raw cashew nuts in Portugal ranges between EUR 5.00 to EUR 7.73 ($5.42 TO $ 8.37) on the retail market and $3.79 to $ 5.86 per kilogram on the wholesale market.
Although cashew prices are steady in the Portugal market, the prices fluctuate from time to time because of different factors.
The Portugal cashew market has been increasing in its annual growth rate as a result of an increase in demand in the market.
Production and supply are one of the main factors when it comes to determining cashew prices in Portugal. Since the country relies on imports from other producing countries, low production in these countries directly impacts the Portugal cashew market.
Cashews Portugal
Portugal imports different forms of cashew nuts including raw cashew nuts, cashew kernels, and extensive cashew products.
Cashew products are becoming a trendy thing around the world with new products entering the market.
For instance, butter-roasted cashews are starting to flood the market, loved for their sweet and butter taste.
They can be used to make mouth-watering unforgettable dishes that will leave you wanting more especially if you want something tasty but healthy. Cashew cheese is another cashew product taking the cashew market by storm.
Cashew Nuts Portugal
Today, you can find cashew nuts and cashew products like cheese, butter, or cashew puree on a supermarket shelf or in grocery stores. These can be used on spreading bread or making a sandwich full of vitamin B, calcium, and fiber.
Online stores and websites have made it even easier to access cashew nuts the way you prefer to consume them and have them delivered to your doorstep
The cashew nut journey in Portugal has been an interesting one despite the challenges along the way and in the market. The cashew market has grown incredibly over the years and the future looks bright considering the growing demand for organic nuts in the market.