Maranon is an unusual fruit. Its seed, the cashew nut, grows on top of it in a thick, rubbery shell. Don't try to bite open the shell; it's very bitter. Cashews must be roasted before they can be eaten; they are poisonous when raw. people will try to sell you home-masted cashews. The ripe fruit can be eaten or made into a refresco (shakes) or fermented into wine. The dried fruit is like a cross between a prune and a fig and is sold in supermarkets. You can make a quick and elegant dessert with half a dried maranon topped with a dollop of cream cheese and a cashew.

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