Do cashews come in shells?

I was just wondering I've never seen a cashew unless it's packaged and in the store ready for purchase.

Do cashews come in shells?
A great question. Cashews never come with the shells on because the shells are poisonous.

The Cashew Tree

The gray/brown cashew nut hangs like a nose at the end of the cashew apple. The nut shell is 1-1/2 inches long and kidney shaped. The nut is found on the end closest to the cashew apple. The other end is honeycombed with cells. These cells contain a toxic resinous fluid called cardol that blisters the mouth. For many years, the cashew was referred to as the blister nut.



Inside the hard shell is a slightly curved white cashew kernel which is about 7/8 inches long and is wrapped in a thin brown skin called a testa which is removed during the processing. The cashew nut, therefore, has two shells - the hard exterior shell and the testa.
Reply:No. The cashew nut that you purchase is an appendage that hangs from the flower of the cashew tree (no joke). Only one nut grows per flower that is why they can be somewhat expensive.
Reply:Yes, they're nuts. It's just that removing cashew shells takes a long time and is very difficult, so it is easier to buy and sell them already shelled.
Reply:i dont think so. the cashews ive seen, and i eat them all the time, never have shells. so i will have to say no.
Reply:cashew shells are poisonous...therefor not sold in shell
Reply:No they do not because the shells are toxic and contain a skin irritant similar to poison ivy.
Reply:Cashew nuts are always removed from their shells, known as “apples,” and treated to remove a caustic oil that is natural to the cashew. For that reason, cashew nuts are always sold shelled and dried. Even so-called “raw” cashews have actually been roasted to remove this toxic resin.

They use the oil in brake fluid and such...yuck!
Reply:Shelled, unshelled, raw, cooked, salted or unsalted. Your choice.