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Ask for cashew nuts anywhere in India and the word Kerala follows close behind. The state, and the city of Kollam in particular, has processed the country’s cashews since the 1930s, and the kernels that leave its factories set the standard the trade grades against. Pretty Nuts is the retail house of United Cashews, processing at Chandanathope in Kollam’s historic cashew belt since 2005. Our packs are on shelves across south Kerala, and our kernels travel factory-direct to homes and kitchens across India. Order on WhatsApp.
Why Kerala Cashew Nuts Are Different
The raw cashew is the same nut wherever it is cracked. What Kerala adds is the method. Traditional Kollam processing drum roasts the nut in its shell to loosen it, shells and peels by hand, and dries the kernel slowly in a borma chamber until its moisture drops to a few percent. Then trained graders, most of them women whose skill has passed down generations, sort every kernel by size, colour and wholeness.
Industrial steam processing, the method most of the world moved to, keeps more moisture in the kernel and grades by machine. The result looks whiter and more uniform, and turns soft in the pack sooner. Kerala processing produces a kernel that is slightly deeper in colour, drier, and crisper, with a crunch that lasts. Read about traditional Kerala cashew processing and why each stage matters.
Kerala Cashew Nut Grades
Kerala’s processors grade whole kernels by count per pound, and the grade is the first thing to check on any pack or bill.
| Grade | What it is | Pretty Nuts |
|---|---|---|
| W180 | The largest whole kernel, sometimes called the king size | Loose, by the kilo |
| W240 | The classic premium whole kernel | Every retail pack, and loose |
| W320 | The everyday whole kernel | Loose, by the kilo |
| Splits and pieces | Halves and broken kernels for cooking and baking | Loose, by the kilo |
We pack only W240 in the Pretty Nuts range, in 100 g, 250 g and 500 g, plain or roasted & salted. See the full grades guide and what premium quality means in a cashew.
Where to Buy Cashew Nuts in Kerala
- Supermarkets and stores: Pretty Nuts packs are with more than 100 retail partners across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. Message us with your town and we name your nearest stockist.
- At the factory in Kollam: United Cashews, Door No. KMC-22/452, Chandanathope, Kollam 691014. Find us on Google Maps and message before you come.
- Delivered anywhere in Kerala or India: order factory-direct on WhatsApp, pay by UPI, and we dispatch from Kollam.
Cashew Nut Price in Kerala
There is no single cashew price in Kerala. Rates move with the raw-nut season, with the grade, and with whether you are buying a retail pack or loose kernels by the kilo. W180 costs more than W240, which costs more than W320, and splits cost less again. Buying from a processor in Kollam removes the layers between the factory and you. We share current pack prices, per-kilo loose rates and dealer pricing in the WhatsApp chat, so the number you get is today’s.
Cashew Nut Wholesale in Kerala
United Cashews supplies supermarkets and stores across south Kerala on weekly delivery routes, GST-billed, with merchandising support; read how supply works on the wholesale supplier page. Bakeries, sweet makers, caterers and distributors buy loose kernels by grade, W180, W240, W320 and splits, in the quantities they actually use. Bulk kernel bills are GST-invoiced. Bulk and export inquiries in other grades are welcome at our contact desk.
Are Kerala Cashews Grown in Kerala?
Some are. Kerala grows cashew, and local nadan nuts are a prized seasonal crop. But the state’s fame is processing, not farming. Kollam’s factories take raw nuts from across India and overseas and turn them into the drum-roasted, borma-dried, hand-graded kernels the trade calls Kerala cashews. We say this plainly because a pack that promises single-origin Kerala nuts all year is promising something the season does not allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which district in Kerala is famous for cashew nuts?
Kollam. It has been the centre of India’s cashew processing since the 1930s and is still home to hundreds of processing units. Pretty Nuts is processed by United Cashews at Chandanathope, in Kollam’s historic cashew belt.
Are Kerala cashew nuts grown in Kerala?
Some are. Kerala grows cashew, and local nadan nuts are a prized seasonal crop, but the state’s real fame is processing. Kollam’s factories take raw nuts from across India and overseas and turn them into drum-roasted, borma-dried, hand-graded kernels. When people say Kerala cashews, they mean that craft.
Where can I buy cashew nuts in Kerala?
Pretty Nuts packs are stocked by more than 100 retail partners across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. You can also buy at the United Cashews factory in Chandanathope, Kollam, or order on WhatsApp at +91 98469 23836 for delivery anywhere in Kerala or India.
What is the price of cashew nuts in Kerala?
Cashew prices in Kerala move with the raw-nut season and the grade: W180 costs more than W240, which costs more than W320 and splits. Pretty Nuts shares current pack prices, per-kilo loose rates and dealer pricing in the WhatsApp chat at +91 98469 23836.
Can I order Kerala cashew nuts online from another state?
Yes. Message Pretty Nuts on WhatsApp with the packs or grades you want, pay by UPI, and we dispatch factory-direct from Kollam to anywhere in India.
Kerala Cashews, Straight from Kollam
W240 whole kernels, processed the traditional way since 2005. Packs for the home, loose grades for the kitchen, dealer pricing for the shelf.
Order on WhatsApp