Cashews are one of Phuket's genuine local agricultural products, and cashew snacks sold across the island are a more authentically local souvenir than most mass-produced options.
Where they come from
Cashew trees grow across the island's rural interior, with harvesting concentrated in the drier months — small local farms and cooperatives process the nuts into roasted and flavoured snack products sold at markets and gift shops island-wide.
What's on offer
Beyond plain roasted cashews, look for locally made cashew brittle, honey-roasted varieties, and cashew products mixed with local chilli or other Thai flavourings — genuinely distinct from generic packaged nuts sold elsewhere.
Buying tips
Markets and dedicated cashew shops (rather than convenience stores) tend to stock better quality, more recently roasted product — worth checking a package's roast date if buying to bring home rather than eat immediately.