Cashew Grades Explained: W180 to Splits
Understanding the W-grade system, what each grade is best suited for, and how to choose the right one for your business.
The W-Grade System
Cashew grading follows the 'W' system — the number refers to how many whole kernels fit in one pound (454 grams). W180 means 180 kernels per pound, making them the largest and most premium cashews available. W240 is the most common commercial grade. W320 is the industry standard for everyday retail. W450 are smaller kernels suited for cooking and food processing.
The lower the number, the larger the cashew — and the higher the price. W180s can cost 40-60% more than W320s.
Whole vs Splits vs Pieces
Beyond whole grades, cashews are also sold as splits (halves), pieces (broken), and flour. Splits are whole cashews broken cleanly into two halves — popular in sweets and bakery. Pieces are irregular broken fragments — the most economical option for cooking, food manufacturing, and industrial use.
A common mistake buyers make is paying whole-grade prices when their end use only requires splits or pieces. If you're making cashew barfi or adding cashews to a curry, W320 pieces will perform identically to W240 wholes at half the price.
Choosing the Right Grade
For retail packaging (consumer-facing): W240 or W320 whole. Appearance matters here — uniform size and colour command shelf presence.
For restaurants and catering: W320 whole for garnishing, splits for cooking. Most restaurant buyers over-spec — a W240 garnish on a biryani doesn't taste different from a W320.
For bakeries and confectioneries: Splits and pieces. They get chopped or ground anyway — buying wholes is wasting money.
For FMCG and food manufacturing: Pieces and flour. Price efficiency is everything at scale. Consistency in size matters more than individual kernel aesthetics.
Origins and Quality Variation
Indian cashews (Goa, Kerala) are known for their natural sweetness and are preferred in domestic markets. Vietnamese cashews dominate global exports — they offer excellent consistency at competitive prices. African origins (Tanzania, Ivory Coast) provide good value in the economy segment.
At Star Almond, we source across all origins and can help you match the right origin-grade combination to your use case and budget.