Nuts, Seeds & Pastes
Cashew Paste in gelato
Cashew paste is 100% roasted cashew kernels ground into a smooth, fluid nut butter. In gelato it is a fat- and protein-rich flavor base that adds body, creaminess and a mild, buttery-sweet nut note.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 97% |
| Water | 3% |
| Sugars | 5.5% |
| Fat | 48% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 17.5% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 5.5 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 5.5 |
Typical use: 6-12% of the total mix (as a pure 100% cashew paste flavor base)
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Use pure cashew paste as the primary flavor and fat source in a nut gelato, typically alongside milk, a sugar blend (sucrose plus dextrose) and a touch of stabilizer. Its ~48% fat enriches the mix, boosts perceived creaminess and buffers ice-crystal growth, so keep total fat in balance to avoid a heavy, waxy body. It contributes almost no sugar (~5.5 g/100 g, mostly sucrose), so its direct effect on PAC and POD is minor; adjust freezing point and sweetness with your sugar blend, not the paste. High protein (~17.5%) aids emulsion stability and structure. Because cashew flavor is delicate, a clean base lets it show.
Origin & background
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is native to northeastern Brazil and was spread worldwide by Portuguese traders in the 16th century; today India, Vietnam and Ivory Coast lead global kernel production. Per USDA FoodData Central, cashew butter is roughly 49% fat and 18% protein, reflecting the kernel's unusually high monounsaturated-fat content among tree nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy #170163 - Nuts, cashew butter, plain, without salt added (per 100g: water 2.99 g, fat 49.41 g, protein 17.56 g, carbohydrate 27.57 g, total sugars 5.00 g, fiber 2.0 g, ash 2.47 g). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170163/nutrients
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy #170162 - Nuts, cashew nuts, raw (per 100g: water 5.20 g, fat 43.85 g, protein 18.22 g, carbohydrate 30.19 g, total sugars 5.91 g, fiber 3.3 g, ash 2.54 g). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170162/nutrients
- Foodstruct - Nuts, cashew butter, plain (USDA-derived, supporting source): https://foodstruct.com/food/nuts-cashewbutter-plain-withoutsaltadded
- myfooddata - Cashew Butter nutrition (USDA #170163): https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts/170163/wt1