What does guava taste like?

Guava is a delicious tropical fruit native to Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Their skin color ranges from yellow to light green, and their flesh is usually white, deep red, or a vibrant shade of pink.

It is small and oval in shape, and the fleshy part has a creamy texture that is often compared to a pear or papaya without the seeds.

When ripe, it has a strong odor that is sweet and musky, and the more ripe it is, the stronger the aroma. It’s the perfect balance between soft and firm, and has edible seeds that can be a bit tougher.

Despite its great taste and health benefits, the guava is not the most popular fruit, especially in the United States.

Those of you who have tried it will know how delicious it is. But those who haven’t yet must wonder what she tastes like.

What does guava taste like?  Guava has a unique flavor that is a bit difficult to describe. Ripe guavas have a sweet, flowery flavor, and many people describe them as a cross between a strawberry, pear, and mango.

There are several varieties of guava and the sweetness depends on the type you are eating and how ripe it is.

Read on to learn about the different varieties of guavas, their flavor, ways to enjoy them, and much more.

Guava varieties and their flavor

There are several varieties of guava with different flavors and characteristics. Some can be as small as a lemon, while others can grow as big as a melon.

Although they are all green when immature, their colors change as soon as they begin to ripen. Some are yellow and orange, while others have pretty shades of pink and red.

Some of the more common varieties are

Tropical Yellow

Also called Mexican Cream, Tropical Yellow guavas have creamy white skin when ripe and orange flesh inside.

They have a moderately sweet flavor and a creamy texture, which makes them a great option for desserts.

Tropical White

One of the cleanest looking varieties, white on the outside and yellow on the inside, Tropical White guavas have a pleasant, fresh aroma, along with a sweet flavor and tender texture.

Since they are very sweet, they are also great for desserts and other sweet dish recipes.

lemon guava

Lemon guavas, also known as apple guavas, are the most common variety and offer a unique flavor that is a mix of the two fruits: lemon and guavas. They are yellow both outside and inside.

Quite sweet and small in size, lemon guavas have a strong aroma and flavor, and present a delicate balance of sweet and sour notes.

tropical rose

With golden yellow skin and salmon pink interior flesh, Rosa Tropical guavas are slightly tart and very sweet . In fact, they are considered the sweetest of all varieties.

They have a strong, sweet musky aroma with tropical notes of papaya, melon, passion fruit and ripe pear.

red malaysia

Red Malay guavas are a great vibrant variant of this delicious tropical fruit. They are comparatively larger and have a round to oval shape.

With a fine, bumpy, glossy, textured, dark purple-brown skin, this type has a mild sweetness and is sometimes used for decorative purposes as well.

The best ways to eat guava

Guava is an exotic tropical fruit that can be found in a variety of different colors and flavors. It is sweet and refreshing, and can be enjoyed both raw and in the form of juices, jellies, and jams.

Some of the best ways to enjoy guava are

eat it raw

It is enough to wash the fruit well and bite into it directly. Since it has no core and the seeds are edible, you don’t have to worry about getting them out.

Cut it with a little chili salt sprinkled

The spiciness of the chili salt coupled with the light crunch of the guava offers a unique experience and is enjoyed in many cultures as an aperitif before dinner.

Mix it into juices and smoothies

Regardless of the type of guava you like, almost all offer excellent flavor and a perfect blend of freshness and sweetness. You can blend a few guavas to prepare fresh juices and smoothies as a healthy breakfast or midday snack.

Guavas blend well with other fruits and can be paired with citrus, coconut, strawberries, and pineapple.

How to prepare guava sauce, syrup and jam

Guavas can be cooked and made into a sauce, syrup or jam that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

You can accompany the delicious guava sauce with the chicken of your choice, pancakes, oatmeal and yogurt, or use it as a sauce for your favorite fried foods. Guava syrup can be used in snow cones and slushies for a refreshing tropical touch.

Guava jam makes an excellent filling for cookies, cakes, and pastries, and can also be spread on toast, muffins, and crackers for an unusual breakfast option compared to the more commonly eaten strawberry and blueberry jams.

Use as a fresh ingredient for salads

Fresh guavas can be sliced, grated or chopped, and used as an ingredient in your favorite salads or coleslaw.

Its fresh flavor and pleasant aroma pair well with crisp leafy greens and make a healthy lunch, snack or side dish.

You can also add guavas to fruit salads and enjoy them as part of a healthy breakfast alongside yogurt and granola.

What does guava juice taste like?

Guava juice tastes just like guava fruit, especially when made fresh, with hints of sweetness and flavor along with a bit of sourness.

Like the fruit, guava juice also has a pleasant aroma and is highly nutritious. You can drink it with the pulp or strain it to make it without the pulp, depending on your preference.

You can get store-bought guava juice, but make sure it’s the fresh kind and not one full of added sugars and preservatives.

You can also make fresh guava juice at home by following the step-by-step instructions below:

• Wash a few guavas and cut them well . You can peel the skin and remove the seeds if you want.
• Put them in a juicer or blender with a little water.
• To make it sweeter, add a few drops of honey .
• Strain or enjoy as is.

What does guava syrup taste like?

Guava syrup is made from concentrated guava juice and has the same lush, sweet aroma with a juicy, ripe, slightly tart flavor.

It can be used as an unexpected fruit topping for breakfast favorites like pancakes and waffles. You can also warm it up a bit and drizzle it over vanilla ice cream or your favorite sundae.

Guava syrup tastes great as a topping for fresh fruit and offers an unexpected and unusual flavor for slushies and snow cones.

Like guava juice, you can buy guava syrup at the store or make a fresh batch yourself at home.

Most store-bought guava syrups have a lovely red hue similar to the interior of ripe guava and contain the following ingredients: natural guava flavor, pure cane sugar, water, citric acid, and natural color.

Making homemade guava syrup is also incredibly easy. This is what you have to do

• Take a few guavas of your choice, chop their ends and cut them in half.
• Put them in a small saucepan with a cup of water and bring to a boil.
• Cook them for at least 10 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the softness and size of the fruit.
• Once they are soft and mushy, remove them from the water and use a spoon to scoop out the juices through a strainer.
• Collect all the juice and add some honey to the mixture.
• Pour this mixture into a blender to make it into a smooth syrup.

Transfer to an airtight jar and store in the fridge. It tastes even better the next day and pairs well with ice cream, drinks, and other fruits. You can also freeze it to use later.

How to choose the perfect guava fruit

To enjoy the proper flavor and experience of a good guava, you have to make sure you choose one that is perfectly ripe.

Although guavas are naturally sweet fruits, they are tart and more acidic when unripe. Unripe guavas are tougher and have a dry mouthfeel.

Overripe guavas, on the other hand, are very tender on the inside, and although they are usually edible, they work best for jams and jellies. If the guava meat is too tender and turns brown, it is spoiled.

Regardless of the type of guava, they all start out dark green when immature and transition to a lighter yellow-green or reddish-pink color.

When selecting the best ones to eat, be sure to choose guavas that have turned past green and are free of blemishes and bruises.

You can use your fingers to test how ripe they are, as perfectly ripe guavas will be soft and give a bit when you squeeze them lightly.

You can also smell them well and tell if they are ripe by their aroma. Guavas have a strong, musky, sweet aroma that you should be able to smell without holding it up to your nose.

Unripe guavas may not smell as strong, and overripe ones may smell unpleasantly sweet.

If you have unripe green guavas because you weren’t sure which ones to buy, don’t worry, there are easy ways to let them ripen at room temperature.

One of the easiest ways is to place them in a paper bag with a banana or apple and leave them on your kitchen counter at room temperature.

Some guavas may be treated with edible wax to slow the ripening process, so be sure to rinse them well to speed it up.

Once they are perfectly ripe, you can eat them or store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

If you have any leftovers, you can also slice them and freeze them in freezer-safe bags for up to 8 months. Take them straight from the freezer and mix them into a frozen guava smoothie. It’s delicious!

Related questions

We’re sure our detailed guide has made you want to try sweet, juicy, and slightly tart guava, right? We know we’re going to the fresh produce aisle of the supermarket as soon as we’re done here!

Now that you know everything there is to know about how guavas taste, what they smell like, the different varieties you can choose from, and the many ways to use them, here are a few more questions related to this tropical fruit!

What is the sweetest guava?

Mirror on the wall, what is the sweetest guava of all? The pink guava! Although there are many guava varieties that are all incredibly sweet, pink guavas are the sweetest of the various varieties.

They have a sweet musky fragrance with tropical notes of papaya, passion fruit, melon and pear, and are moderately tart. They have a pretty pink flesh and are considered by many to be the sweetest type of guava.

How long does guava last?

Ripe guavas do not keep very long at room temperature due to their high sugar content and start to lose their quality after 1-2 days.

Unripe guavas, on the other hand, last much longer at room temperature. They take about 2-4 days to mature and then another 1-2 days until they start to lose quality and freshness.

Once they have ripened, you should always store guavas in the fridge, where they will last for a good 4-5 days. Unripe guavas will last even longer in the fridge and will stay fresh for 2-3 weeks.

If you want to keep your guavas fresh for even longer, the freezer is the best place to keep them.

Just make sure you choose perfectly ripe guavas and store them in freezer-safe bags, and they should keep well for about 8 months.

How to know if the guava is bad?

You can tell your guava is bad if you notice any of the following signs: extreme tenderness, unpleasant odor, and the presence of mold spots, worms, and black and brown flesh.

If you gently press the fruit and see the skin easily tear or collapse, this is a major sign that the guava is overripe and may have gone bad. If it gives off an unpleasant aroma or a rotten smell, don’t risk eating it and throw it away.

The presence of moldy spots, worms, and black or brown spots are also clear indicators that the fruit has rotted and is unsafe to eat.