Cashew is a type of NUT that comes from the cashew tree, which is native to tropical regions of Central and South America. The tree belongs to the same family as sumacs and mangoes, and produces an edible seed known as a cashew NUT. The NUT is encased in a double shell and covered by a fleshy ARIL, which is also edible. Cashews are related to other NUTS such as pistachios and peppercorns, which are also members of the same family.