Cashew grades, decoded
Cashew kernels are graded by piece count per pound — the smaller the count, the bigger the nut, the higher the price. Eleven grades define the global trade. Whether you're sourcing for premium retail, food manufacturing, or vegan dairy alternatives, the grade dictates everything: visual appeal, cost-per-application, and supply availability.
Proportions are visual approximations of relative kernel volume by grade. Actual sizes vary lot-to-lot within AFI tolerances.
| Code | Name | Count / lb | Size | Tier | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W180 | King of Cashews | 170–180/lb | largest | premium | Top-of-tree grade. Gift-pack and luxury HoReCa. Limited availability. |
| W210 | Jumbo wholes | 200–210/lb | very large | premium | Gift packs, premium retail. |
| W240 | Premium wholes | 220–240/lb | large | high | Most-traded premium grade. Premium retail, gifting, snacking. |
| W320 | Standard wholes | 300–320/lb | medium | standard | The workhorse grade. Highest global volume. Snacking, confectionery, food manufacturing. |
| W400 | Smaller wholes | 350–400/lb | small-medium | standard | Confectionery and ingredient use. |
| W450 | Small wholes | 400–450/lb | small | value | Ingredient use, mass retail, cashew-based dairy alternatives. |
| W500 | Smallest wholes | 450–500/lb | smallest | value | Ingredient and processing use. |
| SW | Scorched wholes | varies | whole, colour-affected | discount | Whole kernels with light scorching from processing. Excellent flavour, off-spec colour. Used in cooking, baking. |
| LWP | Large white pieces | pieces | broken, large | discount | Broken pieces from grading. Cashew butter, cashew milk, confectionery. |
| SWP | Small white pieces | pieces | broken, small | discount | Smaller broken pieces. Cashew flour, vegan cheese, ingredient. |
| BB | Baby bits | fine pieces | crumbs | low | Smallest fragments. Cashew flour, garnishes, animal feed. |
The grading system
Cashew kernel grading is governed primarily by the Association of Food Industries (AFI) specification and the Indian export specification (AGMARK). Both systems share the core convention: W<number> indicates "White whole" kernels with a count of up to <number> per pound. So "W240" means a count not exceeding 240 nuts per pound — typically 220–240.
Whole kernel grades
Larger wholes (W180, W210, W240) are visually impressive and command premium pricing — they're the grade you see in gift boxes and luxury HoReCa contexts. W320 is the workhorse of the global cashew market — the highest-volume grade and the one most buyers default to when grade isn't critical. W400, W450, and W500 are smaller wholes used in confectionery, mass-retail snack packs, and ingredient applications.
Scorched and coloured wholes
SW (scorched wholes) are whole kernels with light surface scorching from the steam-roasting step in processing. They retain full nutritional value and often have deeper flavour, but the off-spec colour disqualifies them from premium gift markets. Most cooking, baking, and Indian sweets (kaju katli, kaju curry) use SW kernels — they're often the smarter buy.
Pieces and bits
LWP (large white pieces), SWP (small white pieces), and BB (baby bits) are broken fragments from the grading process. They're not lower-quality kernels — they're the same nut, just structurally broken. Cashew butter, cashew milk, vegan cheese, cashew flour, and confectionery inclusions almost all use pieces. Cost-per-use is dramatically lower than wholes.
Choosing a grade
- Premium retail / gifting: W180, W210, W240
- Standard retail / snacking: W320
- Confectionery / bakery: W400, W450, SW
- Indian sweets and curries: SW, LWP
- Cashew butter / milk / cream: LWP, SWP
- Cashew flour / cheese: SWP, BB
If you're not sure which grade fits your application, our buyer guide walks through use-case-to-grade mapping with typical specifications. Or send an RFQ and verified processors will recommend the grade that matches your spec and budget.