Karma’s Sophisticated, Healthier, Kosher Cashews

Aug 28, 2026 by Chef David

By Chef David                                          [Updated August 2026]

Cashews, always a go-to healthy snack, are now even healthier thanks to Karma Nuts’ introduction of the “wrapped” cashew. Certified kosher by the OU, Karma’s minimally processed cashews come roasted or wrapped in their natural skins, which is a culinary innovation.  They have a distinctive crunch and are coated with delectable flavors.

Did you know that the cashew is botanically classified as a seed? It grows inside a kidney-shaped drupe that hangs below the cashew apple.

Health Benefits

Cashews are naturally packed with nutritional and health benefits. They are low in sugar and rich in dietary fiber, and brimming with vitamins, minerals, and flavor. Each quarter-cup serving contains approximately 160 calories and provides four to six grams of plant-based protein. Not only do they taste good, but they are good for you, providing 10% Daily Value of iron, 9% vitamin K, 1% calcium, 4% potassium, 15% phosphorus, 20% magnesium, 15% zinc, 80% copper, and 25% manganese. 

Nut skins are a rich source of antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols. Karma wrapped nuts, which are air-roasted without oil, provide up to ten times more antioxidants than their blanched cousins and contain more than double the fiber of traditional cashews.

Cashew Reimagined – Innovation

The company’s founder, Ganesh Nair, combined knowledge from his master’s degree in health and science from MIT with his family’s cashew business to create wrapped nuts in 2014, an industry innovation. Mr. Nair’s background inspired Karma’s unique process for producing cashews with their skins on, wrapped.  Karma introduced a suite of alluring flavors, with a sophisticated profile not typical for cashews.

Karma is a high-quality product. The nuts are whole, nothing was broken or crushed, and each nut is fully coated with flavor.  Even the packaging is distinctive: attractively colored, designed for freshness, reclosable, and secure. 

Refined Flavors

Each of the six varieties we sampled had a completely different, refined flavor, which complemented the cashew taste without overpowering it.  We enjoyed their Sweet Matcha Roasted, Cinnamon Wrapped, Cocoa Dusted Wrapped, Sea Salt Wrapped, Golden Turmeric Wrapped, and Toasted Coconut Roasted. Karma makes two additional flavors, which we did not sample (Peri-Peri Roasted and Lime Twist Wrapped).

The first ingredient in every package of Karma nuts, irrespective of the variety, is always cashews. Other natural ingredients include natural cane sugar, organic rice syrup, sea salt, coconut flakes, and natural flavors, such as cardamom, chili powder, vanilla, cinnamon extracts, and cocoa powder.

My favorite flavors are cinnamon, which comes wrapped, and matcha, which is roasted. 

Unlike other cashews, Karma’s are not overly salty. Their wrapped nuts have a unique mouthfeel with a little crunch. Their flavor-layer coating transforms the cashews into novel colors, which did not stain my fingers.  

Since our initial article was published in 2021, Karma has introduced a new product, Olive Oil. These cashews are roasted and seasoned with cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and contain only three ingredients: cashews, extra virgin olive oil, and salt. They are a simple, healthy snack that allows you to savor the cashew. 

Karma nuts can be purchased online, or you can use the locator to find a local store.

Karma has elevated the humble cashew from being a trail-mix ingredient to a mature crowd-pleaser, suitable for traveling and elegant enough for your Shabbos table.