This well known tree is originally native to Venezuela and Brazil but widely grown throughout the tropics today and valued for the kernel of its fruit, commonly known as the cashew nut, and the cashew apple, which is attached to the actual kidney shaped fruit. The cashew apple is little known outside the tropics as it does not keep or ship well but it is sweet and juicy and often made into a delicious drink. In India, a liquor is distilled from the fermented fruits called fenny. The shell of the kidney-shaped nut contains a phenolic resin that is highly allergenic and can cause very unpleasant skin irritations that itch for days. This is eliminated by roasting the nuts. The tree also provides a number of medicinal properties. In cultivation it is best grown in a tropical climate.