Understanding Cashew Kernel Grades: W180 to W500 Explained

At a glance

• The W number counts white whole kernels per pound: W180 runs about 160 to 180, W320 about 300 to 320.
• A lower count means a larger kernel — the ladder runs W180, W210, W240, W320, W450, W500.
• W240 and W320 are the most widely traded whole grades; W180 is the premium size.
• Scorched (SW) kernels are sound and fully edible — the amber colour is cosmetic, and they grade by the same counts (e.g. SW240).
• Splits and pieces (WS, SS, LWP, SWP) are the low-cost route for grinding, bakery and coating uses.
• Export kernels are specified to a maximum of 5 per cent moisture.

Cashew kernel grades use a W prefix for white whole kernels followed by a number that counts kernels per pound — so W180 delivers roughly 170 to 180 kernels per pound (the largest standard whole grade), W240 and W320 are the most widely traded sizes, and the count climbs as kernel size decreases through to W500. Scorched grades (SW), splits (WS, SS) and pieces (LWP, SWP) follow the same logic. Getting the grade right matters: it drives both your price and how the kernel performs in your product, whether that is a retail snack pack or an ingredient for confectionery.

Cashew kernel grades at a glance

• W180 — the largest standard whole grade, around 160 to 180 kernels per pound, the premium size.
• W210 — large whole grade, known in the trade as 'jumbo', around 200 to 210 per pound.
• W240 — large whole grade, around 220 to 240 per pound, valued where visual appeal matters.
• W320 — the most widely traded whole grade, around 300 to 320 per pound, the all-purpose size.
• W450 — the smallest standard white whole grade, around 400 to 450 per pound.
• W500 — smaller still and less common in international trade.
• SW (scorched) — sound whole kernels with a light amber colour from heat during processing; graded by size the same as white wholes (e.g. SW240).
• WS / SS — white splits and scorched splits, kernels cleanly halved along the natural seam.
• LWP / SWP — large and small white pieces, broken kernels above and below a set sieve size, common in butters, bakery and confectionery.
• Butts and bits — the smallest sound pieces, used in pastes and inclusions.

What the W numbers mean

The W stands for white whole kernels, and the number is the count of kernels per pound. A lower number means a larger nut, so W180 delivers roughly 170 to 180 kernels per pound and is the largest standard whole grade, while W500 is the smallest. W240 and W320 are the most widely traded sizes and suit most snack and ingredient uses. Larger grades carry a premium for their visual appeal.

Scorched grades and colour

Not every whole kernel is bright white. During shelling and drying, some kernels take on a light amber colour from heat. These are graded as scorched, marked SW, and follow the same count logic — so SW240 is a scorched whole kernel of W240 size. Scorched kernels are sound and fully edible; the difference is purely cosmetic, which makes them a sensible choice where the nut is roasted, coated or ground.

Splits and pieces

• WS, white splits — kernels cleanly halved along the natural seam.
• SS, scorched splits — halved kernels with a light amber colouring.
• LWP, large white pieces — broken kernels above a set sieve size.
• SWP, small white pieces — smaller fragments, common in butters and bakery use.
• Butts and bits — the smallest sound pieces, priced lowest and used in pastes.

“Pieces are not a lower quality of nut. They are a lower cost of presentation — and for grinding, baking or coating they often make the most commercial sense.”

— Asha Ngonyani, Quality Manager

A common mistake is to over-specify. Buying W240 wholes for a product that grinds the kernel anyway means paying for an appearance the customer never sees. Matching grade to end use — whole grades for visible snacking, splits and pieces for processing — is one of the simplest ways to control ingredient cost.

Specifying with confidence

A complete cashew kernel specification names six things, so the contract grade and the delivered grade describe the same nut:

• Grade and form — e.g. W320, SW240, LWP.
• Kernel count per pound, with an accepted tolerance band.
• Maximum moisture content (typically 5 per cent for export kernels).
• Defect tolerances — broken, scorched, foreign matter, infestation.
• Food-safety standard the lot is processed under.
• Packaging format and net weight per unit.

We confirm each shipment against the agreed grade with kernel counts and defect checks before despatch. That consistency, lot after lot, is what makes a supplier worth keeping.