On World Cashew Day, Emirates Spotlights the Perfect Inflight Snack

The sky is the limit for Indian cashews, and its reach now extends way beyond the country’s shores to over 150 destinations across 85 countries and territories. A success story on World Cashew Day, celebrated every year on 23 November, involves the largest international airline – Emirates – and the largest cashew producer in the world – India. It is also a story about the meticulous efforts of an airline to cater to the preferences and needs of its passengers.

Every year, India exports over 80,000 tonnes of cashew kernels, valued at more than US$900 million. Around 22% of this revenue comes from cashew exports to the UAE, where Emirates is based. In 2017-18, UAE imported 21% of India’s total cashew exports and became the largest importer of the nut.

Emirates uses this popular buttery nut extensively in its international and regionally inspired cuisine, gracing its sumptuous dishes in many avatars - whole, sliced, and as paste. Whether used as a delicious base or as a sizzling garnish, cashews lend its distinctive taste and flavour to Emirates’ dishes from butter chicken, khaju badam diya macher and pongal to shahi paneer, murgh korma and many more. Across the straits, Sri Lankans can enjoy it in a potato and cashew curry and as devilled cashews.

The airline specially prepares masala cashews, Indian style, sourced from Tamil Nadu to get the perfect snack that is neither greasy nor sticky for its First and Business Class passengers. These snacks can be enjoyed by passengers in their spacious, well-appointed seats, drink in hand or working at their laptops, and at the luxurious Onboard Lounge on the A380s.

Every year, Emirates serves around 33 tonnes of masala cashews around its global network, and 125 tonnes mixed nuts of which cashew is a key ingredient, besides almonds, pistachios and macadamia. This is not counting the tonnes of cashews the airline buys to include in its regional and international dishes.

While cashews cross the seven seas mainly by ocean freight, Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of the airline, steps in quickly to transport urgent shipments. This year for example, SkyCargo transported more than 50,000kgs of cashews from Kochi to Los Angeles during the months April to October. Indian cashews on Emirates’ global services of 159 destinations has piqued interest, created awareness and more opportunities for Indian farmers and industry. The airline recognises its significant role in connecting communities and fostering trade.

Emirates’ 34 years in India have been defined by progressive investment, partnership and growth. In the 2015 study by The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), Emirates’ Indian operations contributed over US$848 million annually to the nation’s GDP, supporting over 86,000 jobs and generating about US$1.7 billion in foreign exchange earnings. The Emirates Group currently employs more than 13,700 Indian nationals globally – constituting 21% of its workforce, most of them in high-skilled employment.

In India, Emirates serves nine cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram, with 170 weekly services. From Dubai, Emirates connects customers to 159 global destinations in 85 countries and territories, spanning six continents. Renowned for providing an exceptional flying experience, Emirates’ customers travelling in all classes can enjoy regionally inspired cuisine, more than 4,500 entertainment channels on ice – the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system – and up to 20MB complimentary Wi-Fi to stay connected with friends and family during the flight.