If you buy cashew kernels regularly, you've probably already come across the designation "W240," usually printed small next to "W180" or "W320." What looks at first glance like a model number is actually a globally used size classification for cashew kernels.
What does the "W" stand for?
The "W" stands for "White Wholes," meaning whole, light-colored kernels with no breakage or discoloration.
And what about the number?
The number indicates roughly how many kernels go into one English pound (453 grams). The lower the number, the larger and heavier the individual kernel, since fewer of them fit into a pound. A W180, accordingly, is the premium size with especially large, uniform kernels, W240 sits in the upper mid-range, and W320 is the most commonly traded size worldwide because it offers the best balance of price, appearance and availability.
The size doesn't say anything about the taste, but it does say something about appearance and the snacking experience: larger kernels look higher-quality and are well suited for enjoying on their own, while smaller sizes are often used in mixes, for baking, or for further processing.
Where do the nuts actually come from?
The cashew tree originally comes from Brazil and was brought to India and East Africa centuries ago by Portuguese traders, where it still grows today. The raw kernel, the actual cashew nut, is now grown mainly in West Africa, with countries like Ivory Coast, Benin, Tanzania and Nigeria among the largest growing regions worldwide. Processing, meaning removing the kernels from their hard shell and roasting them, takes place largely in Vietnam and India, the two global centers of cashew processing.
So the next time you see "W240" on the packaging, you'll know: consistently large, single-variety kernels, somewhere between premium and everyday, having made a journey from West African plantations all the way to processing plants in Southeast Asia.