A buyer's guide from a cashew processor
Cashew & almond grades, explained simply.
What W240 and W320 mean, when splits are the smarter buy, and how almond varieties and sizes differ. Written by the team that held India's first BIS licence for cashew kernels.
W320 = White, about 320 kernels per pound
The letter tells you colour and wholeness; the number tells you size. A smaller number means bigger kernels.
Drawing shows relative kernel size, not actual size. W = white whole, SW = scorched whole (slightly darker from longer roasting during processing), DW = dessert whole (darker or with small marks, priced lower).
Whole cashew grades at a glance
Counts follow the standard trade specifications used for Indian cashew kernels.
| Grade | Kernels per lb | Kernels per kg | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W180 | 170–180 | 355–395 | King of cashews. Largest, rare | Premium gifting |
| W210 | 200–210 | 440–465 | Jumbo | Premium gifting, dry fruit trays |
| W240 | 220–240 | 485–530 | Large, popular premium grade | Gifting, premium snacking |
| W280 | 260–280 | 575–620 | Medium-large | Snacking, roasting |
| W320 | 300–320 | 660–705 | Most traded grade worldwide | Everyday snacking, flavoured nuts, retail packs |
| W400 | 350–400 | 770–880 | Medium-small | Roasting, cooking |
| W450 | 400–450 | 880–990 | Small whole | Value packs, cooking, garnish |
| W500 | 450–500 | 990–1,100 | Smallest whole | Cooking, sweets |
Splits, butts and pieces: same nut, smarter price
Broken grades taste the same as wholes. If the cashew is going into a sweet, gravy or ice cream, paying for whole kernels is money wasted.
| Grade | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Butts (B) | Whole kernels broken crosswise, at least 3/8 of a kernel | Sweets, gravies, cooking |
| Splits (S) | Kernels split naturally lengthwise into two halves | Kaju katli, sweets, roasting, cooking |
| Large white pieces (LWP) | Broken pieces larger than a 4-mesh sieve opening (≈4.75 mm) | Namkeen, gravies, bakery |
| Small white pieces (SWP) | Pieces that pass 4-mesh but not 6-mesh (≈2.8 mm) | Bakery, biscuits, ice cream |
| Baby bits (BB) | Pieces that pass 6-mesh but not 10-mesh (≈1.7 mm) | Ice cream toppings, chikki, bakery fillings |
The right grade for the job
Almond grades: variety first, then size
Almonds are graded by variety, then by size as kernels per ounce (for example 23/25 means 23 to 25 kernels in an ounce, about 28 g). Lower numbers are bigger nuts. Quality grades such as Extra No. 1 and Supreme limit defects like chips, doubles and splits.
| Variety | Origin | How to recognise it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpareil (NP) | California | Thin, smooth light skin; flat, uniform kernels | Snacking, gifting, flavoured almonds |
| Carmel / Independence / Monterey | California | Slightly darker, wrinkled skin; good flavour at a lower price | Everyday use, roasting, cooking |
| Mamra | Iran / Afghanistan | Concave, high oil content, rich taste; costliest | Premium gifting, soaking |
| Gurbandi | Afghanistan | Small, high oil, slightly bitter note | Soaking, traditional use |
| Kashmiri / Indian | India | Variable size, softer shell varieties | Local trade, cooking |
Common size bands, largest to smallest: 18/20, 20/22, 23/25, 25/27, 27/30, 30/32, 32/34.
Common questions
What does W320 mean in cashews?
W320 means white whole cashew kernels with about 300 to 320 kernels per pound (660 to 705 per kg). It is the most widely traded cashew grade and the usual choice for snacking and flavoured nuts.
Which is better, W240 or W320?
W240 kernels are bigger (about 485 to 530 per kg) and cost more, so they suit gifting. W320 kernels are slightly smaller but taste the same, and give better value for everyday snacking.
Which cashew grade is the biggest?
W180, with about 170 to 180 kernels per pound, is the largest commercial grade and is often called the king of cashews.
Which cashew grade is used for kaju katli?
Most sweet makers use splits or butts for kaju katli, because the cashews are ground into a paste and whole kernels add cost without any difference in taste.
Are broken cashews lower quality?
No. Splits, butts and pieces come from the same nuts as whole kernels; they only broke during shelling or peeling. They are priced lower because they look less uniform.
What is the difference between Nonpareil and Mamra almonds?
Nonpareil is a California variety with a light, smooth skin and uniform shape, good for snacking and gifting. Mamra comes from Iran and Afghanistan, is concave and higher in oil, and is much more expensive.
What do almond sizes like 23/25 mean?
They give the number of almond kernels per ounce (about 28 g). 23/25 means 23 to 25 kernels per ounce; a smaller number means larger almonds.
More from Kazookaa
Need a specific grade?
Tell us the grade, quantity and delivery location. We supply bulk cashew and almond kernels and pack private label to your specification.
- udyog@ratusaria.com
- Company
- Ratusaria Udyog Pvt Ltd (Kazookaa)
- GSTIN
- 22AAICR3866N1ZW