Cashew nuts are one of the most popular foods today, loved for their delicious taste and high nutritional value. However, many consumers only know cashews ifself. In fact, Vietnam’s cashew exports are very diverse, including many types and differentiated according to basic standards. Let’s explore with Viet Field the types of raw cashew nuts for export in today’s article.
Raw cashew kernels are a key export product of Vietnam. This product is processed from raw cashew nuts and classified according to three international criteria: shape, color, and size. Based on these criteria, exported cashews are divided into many small types, each with its own quality standards.
Classification of Cashew Nuts by Shape
During the production process, cashew nuts inevitably experience chipping or breaking. Therefore, classifying cashew nuts by shape, based on the degree of breakage, is the first criterion. Accordingly, cashew nuts are categorized into the following types:
Wholes (W): Cashew nuts that are intact and free from any cracks or breaks.
Splits (S): Cashew nuts that have been split lengthwise, but are still in two whole pieces.
Butts (B): Cashew nuts that have been broken crosswise, resulting in two or more pieces.
Pieces (P): Cashew nuts that have been broken into multiple smaller pieces.
Large Piece (LP): Cashew nut pieces that are larger in size.
Small Piece (SP): Cashew nut pieces that are smaller in size.
VSP (VSP): Cashew nut pieces that are very small in size.
Baby Bits (BB): Cashew nut pieces that are very small and broken into multiple fragments.
Classification by Size
For whole cashew kernels, they are further classified based on their size, with each category having a different weight. These categories are:
W180 Cashews: The king size, with 170-180 kernels per pound (1 pound = 454g).
W210 Cashews: The large size, also known as Jumbo, with around 200-210 kernels per pound.
W240 Cashews: The medium-large size, with approximately 220-240 kernels per pound.
W320 Cashews: The medium size, with around 300-320 kernels per pound.
W450 Cashews: The medium-small size, with approximately 400-450 kernels per pound.
W500 Cashews: The small size, with around 450-500 kernels per pound.
Classification by Color
After roasting and drying, exported cashew nuts can retain their white color, turn yellow, or have spots. A darker yellow color of the cashew kernel indicates a decrease in moisture, making the nut drier and of lower quality than white cashew kernels. The products are coded to distinguish the quality as follows:
White (W): Cashew kernels that retain their natural white color.
Scorched (S): Cashew kernels that have turned a light yellow color due to the roasting process.
Second Scorched (SS): Cashew kernels that have turned a darker yellow color due to the roasting process.
Light Blemish (LB): Cashew kernels that have light spots or blemishes.
Blemish (B): Cashew kernels that have more noticeable spots or blemishes.
Dark Blemish (DP): Cashew kernels that have dark spots or blemishes.
Vietnam Cashew Grade Exports
Based on the color of exported cashew nuts, the products are divided into different quality segments:
First quality fancy: The highest quality cashew nuts, with white kernels and no blemishes.
Second quality scorched: Cashew nuts with a light yellow color and some blemishes.
Third quality special scorched: Cashew nuts with a darker yellow color and more blemishes.
Fourth quality: Cashew nuts with a darker yellow color and significant blemishes.
Lightly Blemished Wholes (LBW): Whole cashew kernels with light spots or blemishes covering up to 40% of the surface.
Lightly Blemished Pieces (LBP): Cashew nut pieces with light spots or blemishes covering up to 20% of the surface.
Blemished Wholes (BW): Whole cashew kernels with spots or blemishes covering up to 60% of the surface.
Dessert (D): Cashew nuts that do not meet the quality standards for the higher grades.
The provided information offers a comprehensive overview of the various cashew nut classifications employed in the export market. Among the distinguished cashew nut providers, Viet Field stands out as a reliable supplier of high-quality cashew nuts that meet international export standards, catering to both domestic and international markets.
