And in the US, retail prices for whole cashews can reach $15 per pound. But without intensive, precise processing, these nuts wouldn't be edible at all. So how exactly are cashews processed?

Cashew nut production involves several stages, each designed to ensure that only the highest quality nuts are delivered to the market. From the careful harvesting of cashews to the precision ...

then add the rice or quinoa along with a little salt and cook it according to the pack instructions. Meanwhile, put the cashew nuts in a large wok (without any oil) over a medium heat and toast ...

The Accra street vendor looks at me, bemused. I'm trying to establish how the rather flimsy 30g bag of roasted cashew nuts she's selling, beside a sweltering highway in Ghana's capital ...