Wondering what does guava taste like? Learn some fun stuff you need to know about guava in this comprehensive guide!
Guava (Psidium guajava)—a sweet-tasting fruit that’s often found in beverages and jams.
In addition to its interesting flavor and versatility, the tropical gem stands out for the bright yellow to a purplish-red hue of its skin and its small hard seeds.
I would not be surprised if you’ve never eaten this sweet-tasting produce, considering that its tree only grows mostly in tropical (like the Philippines) and subtropical regions (such as Mexico, Pakistan, and Brazel).
The edible fruit is more widely popular in Asian countries. India, China, Thailand, and Bangladesh are among the top 10 producers of fresh guava in the year 2020.
In the United States, the tropical guava tree has thrived in the warm climate of Florida and other regions like Hawaii, making them the top producers in the country.
So what is so special about guava? If you’ve never had it before and wondered what does guava taste like, well…
Get to know more about the delicious fruit in this definitive FAQ guide.
From its flavor profile, proper storage, uses, and the telltale signs that the fruit is bad or not, everything you need to know is packed here!
Guava is a fruit grown on evergreen shrubs in tropical and subtropical climates.
Its origin is unclear, but it’s said that the guava tree and fruits were cultivated at least 5,000 years ago in northern America.
Then later dispersed throughout the Caribbean Islands as well as South and Central America through seed dispersal: humans, birds, and other animals.
The fascination of Spaniards for tropical fruits was largely responsible for the discovery of guava in the Caribbean and the distribution of the cultivar to other parts of the world.
Guava fruit has a bright yellow to purplish-red skin and is filled with tough, edible seeds. The guava flavor depends on its variety and ripening status.
Some varieties, such as tropical pink and red Malaysian, feature a mild sweetness when ripen, while other types offer a delicate balance of sweet and tangy flavor.
Many people think that the fruit has notes of pineapple, papaya, banana, and lemon. It’s soft yet heavy on its size with tiny tough seeds that are edible.
Furthermore, ripe guava should have some give when you press your finger onto its skin.
The fruit has endless possibilities, too; you can use guava for both sweet and savory applications.
But the aficionados love the fruit when eaten raw with some salt to enhance its flavor.
What does guava taste like?
As mentioned, the guava flavor depends on which type of guava you’re eating.
However, generally—the fruit is uniquely sweet with a crunchy, grainy, and sometimes pear-like texture.
Tropical yellow guava is the sweetest among all the guava varieties with tropical pink and red Malaysian on the second spot.
Meanwhile, lemon guava is popularly known for its lemon scent and sweet-tangy taste.
How to eat guava
Guava is so versatile that you can use it to prepare a plethora of dishes and delicacies.
Most people enjoy the ripe guava raw, but you can include the fruit as a key ingredient for your savory recipes, treats, and even beverages.
Here’s a list of delicious items you can make with guava:
- Cut and turn guava into a puree to create a tasty jam.
- Blend it with sugar to make a refreshing guava juice.
- Take advantage of the guava season and make this ‘cheese’ treat.
- Turn guava into a yummy snack or dessert by mixing with sago pearls.
- Bring the tropical flavor of guava to your light, breakfast bread.
- Have excess guava fruit? Mix it with Indian ingredients and make a sweet and sour curry!
- Add the unique flavor of ripe guava fruit into this Filipino-inspired sour soup.
- Guava bars for endless entertaining, everyone?
There’s a lot you can do with guava—all you need is to unleash your creativity.
Also, some fruits pair well with the fruit including citrus, coconut, pineapple, and strawberries.
How to tell if guava is ripe
At the grocery store, guava is often displayed still in their cushioned wrap, and sometimes with plastic also.
While this protects the skin from bruising while it’s being shipped, it can also prevent you from testing to see how ripe it is.
For people who aren’t familiar with guava, it can be hard to tell when the fruit is already ripe.
If that’s the case, check out our list of signs that indicate guava’s ripeness.
Ripe guava should have some give when you gently squeeze it.
You should also pick soft guavas as they tend to be sweeter and more delicious.
Take note: Soft, ripe guavas are perishable so it’s best to consume them right away.
Another way of telling if the guava fruit is ripe is by smelling it.
It should have a fruity, sweet, and tropical aroma. Avoid those fruits with unpleasant or rotten odors.
You can also check its appearance, specifically color, to know whether your guava is ripe or not.
Generally, guava goes from dark green to a lighter yellow-green hue (sometimes a hint of pink color) when ripen.
Pro tip: In case you accidentally bought unripe guavas, it’s okay—don’t panic.
Putting the fruits in a paper bag with a few ripe apples or bananas can speed up their ripening process.
Just remember not to refrigerate the fruit until it’s ripe, since chilling it will stop the ripening process.
How to store guava
Across the U.S. guavas are usually shipped unripe, so you’ll want to unpackage the guava after purchasing and let them sit on the counter.
It isn’t advisable to store unripe guavas in the refrigerator or inside the freezer, so if you’re planning to prolong the life of your favorite fruit—ensure the guavas are fully ripe before you store in the fridge or freezer.
Here’s how to store guava in the refrigerator:
Tools needed:
- Whole, ripe guava
- Plastic or paper bag
- Refrigerator
Instructions for storing guava in the refrigerator:
- Place whole, ripe guava in a plastic or paper bag.
- Using a marker, label the bag to track the date.
- Slide the fruit into the crisper drawer of your fridge.
- Consume the stored ripe guava within four days for the best flavor.
Pro tip: When freezing guava, you need to wash, peel the skin off, and cut in half the fruit before putting it in an airtight container.
When is guava in season?
There’s no specific guava season as the tree blooms all year long.
In Florida, the main seasons of guava are February through March and August through October.
Meanwhile, the guava season in Mexico and Nigeria is in August to April and June through August, respectively.
What color is guava?
When unripe, guavas generally have a dark green color on the outside.
While ripe ones feature a lighter yellow-green hue, sometimes a hint of pink color.
When it comes to size, they’re usually spherical, ovoid, or pyriform in shape and 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) in diameter.
How to remove guava seeds
The whole guava fruit is edible, including its skin and seeds.
But take note—some guava varieties have tough and astringent skin or seeds—so it’s an advantage to learn how to remove guava seeds.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
- Whole, ripe guava
- Spoon
- Knife
Instructions for storing guava in the refrigerator:
- Cut the guava in half.
- Get the spoon and scoop out the seeds and pith.
- Use the fruit in your sweet or drink beverages.
How to make guava nectar
If you’d like to make your own guava nectar, we found this succinct, simple video that demonstrates a manual process:
Get a similar stainless steel cone sieve they use here.
The bottom line
Every bite of the guava fruit will remind you of all things tropical—fruity, sweet, with sometimes tasting something like a marriage of pineapple, papaya, banana, and lemon.
If you haven’t tried one, then this is the sign.
Head to the tropical fruit section in the produce department, purchase some, eat the fruits as is, or turn them into smoothies, bread, or soup!
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