Cashew nuts originate in northeastern Brazil. The maior cajueiro do mundo, or the largest cashew tree in the world, grows there. The tree was planted by a local fisherman in the last decade of the 19th century, while it now covers an area of about 8500 m2, an area larger than a soccer field. However, the history of cashew cultivation goes back to much earlier times. The first information about cashew cultivation by Indians, reached Europe through France and Portugal, as early as the 16th century. At the time, these nuts were described as tastier than almonds. Nowadays they are also called Indian nuts, nanerch nuts, or simply cashews. They owe their most popular name to their appearance, which resembles the shape of a kidney.