Vietnam Cashews - Grade Specifications
Viet Nam’s cashew industry refers to the standards as specified by:
- The Association of Food Industries of New York (AFI's),
- TCVN 4850 1998 - Vietnam cashew nuts kernel and technical request,
- Combined Edible Nut Trade Association (CENTA), UK and
- Grade specifications as followed by the CEPCI.
Grade Specifications as referred to by the Viet Namese cashew industry:
a. White Whole Kernels
Grade
Trade
Designation Name
W180
White
whole
W210
W240
W280
W320
W400
W450
W500
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
The cashew nuts kernel should be white, pale ivory
or light ash gray in colour free from black or brown
spots
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
b. Scorched whole kernels
Grade
Trade Name
Designation
SW240
SW320
SW
SSW
Colour/Characteristics
Colour/Characteristics
Count/454 gm or 1
pound (size
description)
120-180
200-210
220-240
260-280
300-320
350-400
400-500
450-500
Count/454 gm or 1
pound (size
description)
Scorched
Characteristics should be like white whole kernels
220 - 240
kernel 240 but the colour may be darker due to overheating in
the process of oil dressing or drying.
Scorched
do
kernel 320
300 - 320
Scorched
do
whole kernel
Scorched
do
brown whole
kernel
-
c. Dessert Whole Kernels
Grade
Trade
Colour/Characteristics
Designation
Name
Dessert Beside the general requirements, the cashew nuts kernels should have
DW
kernel
the characteristic shape. Shriveled and scorched kernels are permitted
d. Broken kernels
Grade
Designation
WB
WS
SB
SS
LP
SSP
BB
Trade Name
Colour/Characteristics
Kernels broken naturally, the colour of cashew kernels should be the
same as that of whole white kernels.
Kernels split naturally lengthwise, the colour of cashew kernels should
White Splits
be the same as that of whole white kernels.
Scorched
Scorched kernels broken naturally crosswise. The colour of cashew
butts
kernels should be like the color of dessert whole kernels.
Scorched
Scorched split naturally lengthwise. The colour of cashew kernels
splits
should be like the color of dessert whole kernels.
They are broken kernels that do not pass through a sieve of aperture
Large pieces
4.75 mm. They are not distinguished by the colour.
They are broken kernels that pass through a sieve of aperture
Scorched
4.75mm, but not pass through 2.8mm sieve. They are not
small pieces
distinguished by the colour.
They are small broken kernel that pass through sieve of aperture 2.8
Baby bits mm, but not pass through 1.7mm sieve. They are not distinguished by
the colour.
White Butts