First, choose a product that is verifiably organic, then decide whether you’re mainly looking for cashews to serve with drinks or want to use them in breakfast and other dishes too. Unroasted nuts with no added salt work well as a simple ingredient; roasted varieties may contain oil or salt, so check the label, quantity and allergen information on the exact pack.
You want to identify organic cashews by their certification, then compare how they’re prepared and what ingredients they contain. The European Commission explains that the EU organic logo is for products certified as organic by an authorised control body. Skal Biocontrole also explains the legal protection of the term ‘organic’.
You may want to add cashews from your garden party to yoghurt or other dishes, so you’re looking for unroasted nuts and checking whether they contain added salt or oil. Albert Heijn lists cashew nuts as the only ingredient in its unroasted organic cashews.
You’re choosing a pack size to suit how you’ll use the nuts, while also considering storage, allergens and the warning about whole nuts for young children. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a tightly sealed container in a dry place. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products.
| What matters when buying? | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check that the pack displays an organic designation and relevant certification details. ‘Natural’ or ‘oil-free’ is not proof on its own. | If I want organic cashews for my garden party, I check the certification before comparing how they’re prepared or which brand to buy. Around 29% of consumers make certification their top priority. |
| Ingredients for breakfast and other dishes | Read the ingredients list if you want to avoid oil or added salt. ‘Unsalted’ does not automatically mean ‘oil-free’. | If you want to add the nuts to yoghurt or other dishes too, you can choose ingredients to suit this simple use. Around 24% of consumers make simple ingredients their top priority. |
| Preparation and salt | Check whether the cashews are unroasted, baked or roasted, and compare the salt content per 100 g if it matters for serving with drinks. | If I’m looking for a particular flavour to serve with drinks, I check how the cashews are prepared and whether salt has been added. Around 18% of consumers prioritise flavour and preparation. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose a net weight that suits your plans and follow the storage advice on the pack. Seal any leftovers well and keep them dry. | If you want to buy enough for the party without having too much left over, compare the pack size with how you’ll use any leftovers. Around 18% of consumers prioritise quantity and leftovers. |
| Suitability for guests | Check the allergen information on the exact pack and bear in mind the warning about whole nuts for young children. | If guests with allergies or young children are coming, I check the labels and think about how to serve the nuts in advance. Around 11% of consumers make suitability for guests their top priority. |
A description of how a product is prepared doesn’t tell you whether it’s organically certified. The European Commission links the EU organic logo to certification by an authorised control body; Skal Biocontrole explains that ‘organic’ is a legally protected term.
Check the organic designation and certification details on the pack before comparing preparation claims.
The AH and BIO+ unsalted varieties reviewed also contain sunflower oil.
If you want to avoid added oil, choose a specific product whose ingredients list confirms this.
Cashews are an allergen, and labels may list other potential allergens too. Whole nuts can also pose a choking risk for young children.
Read the allergen information on the pack you choose and serve the nuts in a way that takes your guests into account.
Nuts can be susceptible to mould if they aren’t stored properly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping them sealed and dry.
Choose a net weight to suit the party and how you’ll use any leftovers; follow the label instructions for the specific pack.
A larger pack needs enough storage space and a plan for keeping any leftovers properly sealed.
The AH Biologisch products mentioned come in different preparations for serving with drinks, breakfast and recipes.
Among the PLUS products reviewed, BIO+ cashews are listed as unsalted and salted, in 200 g bags.
Jumbo has a product listing for 175 g of organic unroasted cashews.
The Dutch Lidl product page uses the name ‘Organic cashews’.
Duyvis Cashews Original is a relevant range for serving with drinks among the brands listed.
ALDI lists 500 g packs of Trader Joe’s cashews, roasted and salted or unsalted.
No. The 200 g organic AH unsalted variety is baked and contains organic sunflower oil. Check how the cashews are prepared and what ingredients they contain separately from the organic designation.
First decide how many grams you want to serve, then divide that by the net weight of the pack you’ve chosen and round the number of packs up. Albert Heijn lists eight 25 g portions for the 200 g pack and sixteen for the 400 g pack. These portions on the label don’t predict how much your guests will eat at a party.
Seal the pack well and store the nuts in a dry place, following the label instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping nuts sealed and dry because they can be susceptible to mould. Also follow the storage instructions on the label for the specific pack.
Check the label on the exact pack. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods; nuts are among the allergens that must be listed.
Not necessarily: the AH and BIO+ labels reviewed warn that young children can choke on nuts. Bear this warning in mind when deciding how to serve them, and don’t automatically offer whole cashews as a suitable snack for every guest.
