The extraction of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was investigated using five solvents (water, water-methanol mixture, acetone, methanol and hexane) under different extraction conditions. Effects of process parameters such as extraction cycle, pressure, solvent volume and extraction duration were investigated. The best yields of extraction (51.7%) were obtained with water-methanol mixture by using an accelerated solvent extractor (ASE) under pressure at 100 bars. The extraction obtained with water at atmospheric pressure was close to ASE extraction (49.8%). However, the composition of CNSL varied among these different operating conditions. Chemical composition of the extracted oil by ASE or by atmospheric pressure extraction showed minor difference in their composition. The quality of the analyzed extracts was almost equal in cardol, cardanol, anacardol and anacardic acid contents.