Belize Cashew Festival

Updates as to date & Information: visitcrookedtree.com/know-learn/cashews/

Crooked Tree Cashew Festival
Get your appetites ready! The annual Belize Cashew Festival and Agriculture Show is just around the corner. Hosted in Crooked Tree Village, Belize District, artisans, chefs, and local cashew farmers come together for this two-day event to display a wide range of cashew products. Filled with entertainment, contests, fresh produce, wines and cashew-inspired dishes, many travels to the little village of Crooked Tree to experience this highly anticipated event of the year. Throughout the day will be filled with excitement, tasty treats and activities.

The Belize Cashew Festival is a (2) day festival (that started in 1992), and has slowly become a very popular event in Belize. Cashews come from a very luscious tropical fruit, and Belize is proud to grow some of the world’s cashews. To pay tribute to this wonderful, versatile and important crop, attend the cashew festival at the Crooked Tree Village in the Belize District. You won't be disappointed.

Located in the northwest corner of Belize District in central Belize is the tiny village of Crooked Tree, named for one special tree with a unique bent that grows here amidst thousands of other very important trees. Known as the cashew heartland of the country, every year the village puts on a Cashew Festival and Agricultural Show where local farmers and artisans display the eponymous nut in dozens of spectacular forms, including the must-try cashew wine and cashew jelly.

Agenda & Schedule of Activities
Day One - Here you will find many stalls and exhibits; you'll be able to walk around between each display very easily. Enjoy the sounds of cultural music, food tasting, partying, live entertainment, and even dancing. In the evening around 7:00 p.m. a beauty pageant will be held to crown the Cashew Queen, followed by a dance.
Day Two - Taste of Orange Walk | Live entertainment, activities, games, food tasting, cashew and drinking competitions, horseback riding exhibitions and a greasy pole competition.

Is Transportation provided? No
How can we get to the Cashew Festival? Private vehicle, aircraft, car rental, charters, shuttles, public transportation, taxi, or hitch-hiking.
By car from Belize City, take the Northern Highway and follow signs for the village, which lies about 3 miles from the highway.

By bus from Belize City, take any bus heading to Orange Walk and get off at the Crooked Tree stop. The village is approximately three miles down a packed dirt road from the highway. Buses will only be able to stop at the bus stop at the junction for Crooked Tree Village. The village is approximately 3 miles down a dirt road from the highway, which means you would be required to hitch hike or find some means of transportation to go in to the village.

Contact & Location Information
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Venue: Crooked Tree Village
Address: Orange Walk, Belize
District: Belize District

Haven't Tried a Cashew Nut yet? Now's Your Chance!
The sweet yet tart taste of the fruit itself is unique in flavor, giving an authentic twist to dishes when infused. Not to mention, the cashew nut makes for the perfect snack as it has many nutrients. Experience the vibrant spirit of the village as you meander through the showgrounds. Traditional displays, music, and other entertainment make for a cultural day out. The day doesn’t have to end there, as there is a dance following into the night.

Foodies and curiosity seekers alike will be heading to the tiny village of Crooked Tree the northern tip of the Belize District/Orange Walk. The Crooked Tree Cashew Festival will feature a wide range of delicious cashew and cashew-inspired dishes, including jams, cakes, pies, and stews. And one of the top attractions is the famous cashew wine brewed from the fruit of the cashew tree rather than the cashew nut.

Crooked Tree is home to fewer than 1,000 residents, but the fertility of the soil and the climate make it the perfect place for cashew trees to grow. First held in 1992, the Cashew Festival has slowly become one of the top events on the Belizean calendar. Local chefs will be competing to produce delicious cashew-themed meals, and, of course, there will be lots of live music, games, and fun activities for everyone to enjoy.

Cashews are world famous for their rich, buttery texture and delicious taste. But many people are unaware that the cashew nut grows on the outside of a large fruit. The cashew nut is actually the seed of the cashew tree, and it cannot be eaten directly in its raw state. But after being slow-roasted over a fire and a little salt added, the cashew becomes a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth, nutty goodness that goes great with a cold beer or a glass of fresh-squeezed fruit juice.

The village of Crooked Tree is located on an island inside the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS)). A vast, 16,000-acre (6,500-ha) nature reserve, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the Audobon Society. Home to an incredible concentration of avian species, including rare and endangered birds like the Jabiru stork, the CWTS is one of Belize’s most beautiful, untamed wild areas.

What to do at the Belize Cashew Fest?
The Cashew Festival and Agriculture Show in Crooked Tree Village is a wonderful opportunity for locals and visitors to experience cashew in a unique and exciting way. Celebrating this nutritious nut, local artisans, chefs and farmers bring their best cashew products and produce to the show grounds for the public. You can’t miss this once-a-year event.

Why is the Cashew Festival held?
The primary goal of Cashew Festival is to promote the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and the village. The festival will promote the cultural and culinary uniqueness that both locals and tourists enjoy. Proceeds go to fixing the infrastructure the the village itself. This is done by featuring authentic foods and delicacies made from cashews for you to purchase. There is live music, dancing, where you will find clean wholesome fun for the entire family.
The Crooked Tree Village Cashew Festival is a free family event that celebrates everything about the cashew, with good food and live music in a wholesome, family-friendly atmosphere. The festival provides an economic boost to the local businesses.

What Happens on the Festival Days?
Day One - Here you will find many stalls and exhibits; you'll be able to walk around between each display very easily. Enjoy the sounds of cultural music, food tasting, partying, live entertainment, and even dancing. In the evening around 7:00 p.m. a beauty pageant will be held to crown the Cashew Queen, followed by a dance.
Day Two - Taste of Orange Walk | Live entertainment, activities, games, food tasting, cashew and drinking competitions, horseback riding exhibitions and a greasy pole competition.

2-Day Cashew Festival

The Crooked Tree Village Cashew Festival in Belize
A small village that has rich soil and the bounty of blooming cashew trees, this festival has been held for the past 28 years and is still a favorite for Belizeans (as we love cashew)! This festival is normally held in the middle of May, and involves an assortment of mouth-watering cashew inspired dishes - stewed cashews, cashew pie, cashew jams, cashew wine, and our favorite: cashew seed as we call it locally.....the nut!

Why Should You Attend the Crooked Tree Cashew Festival?
Known to inhabitants of more temperate climates as a delicious, buttery nut packed full of minerals and nutrients, the cashew is actually the seed of a tropical fruit known as the cashew apple. The Cashew Festival in Crooked Tree is a great chance to get up and close with the cashew in its natural environment. Games, music and local art are all part of the festival to celebrate the delicious cashew, served up in a mind-boggling array of different forms, including cashew cakes, cashew jams, cashew cookies, steward cashew, roasted cashew and cashew wine.

Cashew Festival Highlights

Cashew Wines and Pastries
Greasy Pole Competition
Horseback riding exhibitions
Live music
Cashew Wine Drinking Competition
Cashew Products
Entertainment

When is the Cashew Festival Held?
The Mango Festival is held in May of each year, in the village of Crooked Tree, in the Belize District.

Best Way to Experience the Cashew Festival?
Come hungry, as there will be dozens of different varieties of cashews to enjoy along with an exhibition of other agricultural products grown in the area. Friday night is the perfect time for dancing and enjoying live music with a glass or two of cashew wine while Saturday and Sunday are both great days to enjoy a taste of local charm in combination with live music and several fun competitions.
What to do at the Belize Cashew Fest?
The Cashew Festival and Agriculture Show in Crooked Tree Village is a wonderful opportunity for locals and visitors to experience cashew in a unique and exciting way. Celebrating this nutritious nut, local artisans, chefs and farmers bring their best cashew products and produce to the show grounds for the public. You can’t miss this once-a-year event.

Be sure to arrive hungry as there are dozens of different mango-themed dishes and other delicacies on offer during the festival. The festival also showcases key elements of the local Garifuna culture, mixing music and food for a truly special experience. Along with all of the mango delicacies, be sure to save room for dessert.

Where is the Cashew Festival Located?
The village of Crooked Tree is located in Belize District on the periphery of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary about 35 miles from Belize City.

How Do I Get to the Cashew Festival?
By car from Belize City, take the Northern Highway and follow signs for the village, which lies about 3 miles from the highway.
By bus from Belize City, take any bus heading to Orange Walk and get off at the Crooked Tree stop. The village is approximately three miles down a packed dirt road from the highway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q-How can I get to the Cashew Festival?

Private Vehicle: If you own a vehicle or has access to a private vehicle and have a valid driver’s license, you can drive to the Cashew Festival in Crooked Tree Village. This is the easiest and most recommended option for transportation.
Rentals/Charters/Shuttles: If you would like to drive or be driven directly to the Cashew Festival, you can rent a vehicle (make sure you have a valid driver’s license) or request a charter or shuttle to transport you to Crooked Tree Village.
Public Transportation (Buses):
1. On the mainland, buses can take you anywhere along the highways. Getting on a bus would require you to go to the town’s bus terminals or wait in a bus stop on the main road. It is recommended that you sit close by the bus driver or ask the bus driver to let you come off at the bus stop near the junction for Crooked Tree Village. If you are staying north of the country (Corozal or Orange Walk), you would have to take a bus going to Belize City. If you are in western Belize (Benque Viejo del Carmen, Succotz, San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town, or other nearby villages) you would need to take an express or regular bus to Belize City. From Belize City, you would then be required to take a bus going to Orange Walk and stop at the bus stop at the junction for Crooked Tree Village. Those living south of the country (Dangriga, Hopkins, Punta Gorda or other nearby locations) take an express or regular bus to Belize City. From Belize City take a bus going to Orange Walk and stop at the Crooked Tree Junction. Bus fares depend on where you are taking the bus and where you are stopping and whether if it is a regular bus or an express bus (non-stop). It should range from $3 BZD to $25 BZD. Note: From the junction, it is a three-mile distance into Crooked Tree Village. To get into the village, you would have to resort to hiking the three miles, catch the bus that goes into the village or hitchhike a ride into the village.
2. If you are staying at one of the islands, there are water taxis available that travel to and from Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Belize City and Corozal. Water taxis should take you from the island to Belize City. Fares usually depend on which island you are at and whether if it is a one-way or roundtrip ticket. Upon arrival at Belize City, you can take a taxi (recommended) or walk to the bus terminal and get on a bus to Orange Walk or Corozal.
Taxi:
1. This option is quite costly if you are planning on taking a taxi cab to the Cashew Festival. If you are staying in Belize City or somewhere near Belize City; however, taxi fares would be around $50 BZD to $100 BZD as it is approximately thirty miles from the city.
2. If you are somewhere further than that, taking a bus is recommended because it would be quite costly to take a taxi to Orange Walk Town from areas like San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town or Belize City. This can cost around $50 BZD to $200 BZD.
Hitch-hiking: When all else fails, and you really want to make it to the festival, you can stand at the roadside of a highway and catch a ride with someone who’s going to the direction of Orange Walk or Belize City. For safety and other reasons, this is not 100% recommended. The Cashew Festival is a three-day event; so, if you missed the bus or can’t find a way to make it the first day, you can always make it the following day. Although, if you take public transportation to the junction for Crooked Tree Village, you might need to hitch hike to go in to the village, which is three miles from the junction.

History of the Cashew

History of the Cashew - The species is native to Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America, including northeastern Brazil. Portuguese missionaries took it to East Africa and India during the late 16th century, where it became abundant at low altitudes near the seacoast. The tree produces wood that is useful in local economies for such practical items as shipping crates, boats, and charcoal as well as for a gum that is similar to gum Arabic. The resin within the shells of the fruit is used as an insecticide and in the production of plastics; it also is important in traditional medicines. The cashew apple is used locally in beverages, jams, and jellies, though most cultivation is directed toward production of the valuable seed crop. The Portuguese took it to Goa, India between 1560 and 1565. From there, it spread throughout Southeast Asia, and eventually Africa.

History of Cashews in Belize
Crooked Tree Village, in the Belize District, is a community of over 1,000 inhabitants. Established as a logging community, Crooked Tree was settled almost 300 years ago. The timber cutters reached the area by way of the Belize River, Black Creek and Spanish Creek. The early settlers, the Tillett’s, Gillett’s, Crawford’s and Cadle’s were of English and Scottish origin and arrived with their African slaves.

Crooked Tree Village is actually an island. This village of large trees homestead is surrounded by Revenge Lagoon, Western Lagoon and Spanish Creek. The little island appealed to our forefathers, and they established a tiny permanent encampment there. According to legend, one of the Tillett’s noted a large twisted bullet wood tree in the area of the settlement and thus the village got the curious name of Crooked Tree.

Over 100 years ago the Baptist Mission started a church and school in the village. The Nazarene Mission later established a church and a health center. The village now boasts a primary school, a government sponsored hearth clinic, hotels and guest-houses, restaurants, commercial bus service, cable TV and an independent water board.

There are several ways to reach this unique village. During the rainy season, one can take a boat from Belize City travelling up the Belize River, then into Black Creek and Spanish Creek. By road one can travel along the Phillip Goldson Highway, detouring to the west near mile 31 onto a 3 mile feeder road where you will be charmed by a half-mile causeway across a sky-blue lagoon welcoming you into the village.

The village is almost an Eden of fruits, specializing in thousands of cashew trees. The inhabitants are agriculturist, rearing cattle and growing rice, corn and ground foods. Fish and game abound in the area of Crooked Tree. Village life is quiet, sports are popular and the cool pine ridge and lagoon air engenders a healthy environment where sickness is rare. One year of assessment shows that 45 people were born in the village and only 6 died.

In 1983, Crooked Tree Village was declared a National Wildlife Sanctuary, to be managed by The Belize Audubon Society. This development precipitated some misunderstandings among the villagers, as some of the laws governing the sanctuary were contrary to their traditional ways of life. These laws regulated fishing, hunting, grazing of animals in the wetland areas and clearing of land for Milpa in the buffer zone. It was during these misunderstandings that a gentleman by the name of Tom Grassyy from a tour company called “International Expedition” came up with an idea to try to divert the villagers into a new industry; cashews. In time, this new idea grew into the “Crooked Tree Cashew Festival”. This festival is now an annual event that attracts thousands of Belizeans as well as international visitors. This festival showcases the Kriol culture, its history, village-life, rural artisans, old fashion fire hearth food and a number of locally produced cashew products.

The beauty, quality and friendly personality of Crooked Tree Village endures today.

Cashew Festival