What is Guava Fruit?

Guava fruit is a sour-sweet tropical fruit that is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. They are oval in shape with rough light green skin and their insides are a light pink color.

The tropical fruit began growing commercially in Florida and Hawaii in the 1800s when it hit American soil. Now, India is the number one producer of guava fruit. We have guava everywhere here in South Florida. Our local grocery stores carry it as well as fresh markets.

What does Guava taste like?

There are several varieties of guava fruits but the most common one tastes a little sour-sweet like a mix between a strawberry and a lemon.

What is Guava Paste?

Now because of the fruit’s high pectin content, you’re able to make guava jams, guava marmalade, and guava paste from the fruit.

Guava paste is essentially like fruit leather made by cooking the guava fruit with sugar (and sometimes fresh lime juice) until it becomes a very thick [delicious] paste.

While the jams and marmalade are drippy, the guava paste is formed into thick and sticky block that’s still soft enough to slice.