Reference

Cashew grades, decoded

Cashew kernels are graded by colour, wholeness and how many nuts make up a pound. Master the codes and you'll never overpay or under-spec an order again.

Roasted cashews with the testa (skin) still on.
Roasted cashews with the testa (skin) still on.

How the grading code works

A grade like W320 breaks down simply:

Rule of thumb: lower number → larger nut → higher price. W180 is the largest and most premium; W450 is small but perfectly good for everyday use.

Whole white grades

GradeNuts / lbCharacterBest for
W180~170–180"King of cashews" — largest whole kernelGifting, premium retail, garnish
W210~200–210Jumbo, large and showyPremium snacking, hampers
W240~220–240Attractive, well-sized, great valueSweets, table nuts, gifting
W320~300–320The world's most popular gradeEveryday cooking, roasting, mithai
W450~400–450Smallest whole white kernelBudget cooking, mass snacking

Splits, pieces & lower grades

Not every kernel survives shelling whole. Broken grades cost less and are ideal when shape doesn't matter — gravies, baking, nut butters, sweets.

CodeMeaningTypical use
JH / SplitsButts & splits — kernel halved lengthwiseCurries, pulao, baking
LWPLarge White PiecesSweets, cooking
SWPSmall White PiecesCashew paste, gravies
BBBaby Bits — smallest fragmentsNut butter, garnish, flour
SW / SSWScorched wholes (slight heat colour)Roasting, masala nuts
DWDessert wholes (off-white, sound kernel)Budget sweets & cooking

Buying & storing well

  • Look: uniform ivory colour, no shrivelling, no dark oily patches.
  • Smell: sweet and milky. A paint-like or bitter smell means rancid oil — reject it.
  • Snap: fresh kernels are firm and crisp, not bendy or soft.
  • Store: airtight, cool and dark. Fridge for months, freezer for up to a year. Cashews are oil-rich and turn rancid faster in heat and light.
Building out the full set: each grade above (W180, W210, W240, W320, W450) will get its own dedicated page with photos, price context and uses once you approve this template.