Southern Africa · Dessert
Doces de Castanha de Caju (Caramelized Mozambican Spiced Cashews)
Crunchy raw cashews roasted and glazed in a sticky, aromatic syrup of dark cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a sharp touch of sea salt.
The story
In the lush cashew groves of Nampula and Gaza provinces, Doces de Castanha de Caju are a beloved sweet treat prepared during the late-spring cashew harvest. Distributed as edible gifts wrapped in brown parchment or banana leaves, they mark family celebrations, weddings, and festive gatherings across Mozambique. Experienced home confectioners carefully monitor the sugar crystallization stage—known locally as the point of sand—allowing the hot caramel syrup to re-coat the nuts evenly before melting back into a thin, glass-like crunchy glaze.
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