If you’re new here, hi, my name is Jamie and I’m obsessed with all things guava. Growing up in a Cuban family means you were brought up with guava fruit, guava paste, guava nectar, and all types of homemade recipes using guava.

If you’ve never heard of guava, I’m happy to share more about this amazing fruit!

What is Guava Fruit?

Guava fruit is a tropical fruit that originated in Central America but it is now cultivated in many tropical regions including parts of Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and Florida.

It has grown in Cuba since colonial times, introduced by the Spanish during their colonization of the Americas. Cuba’s warm climate and fertile soil provided an ideal environment for guava trees to thrive across the island.

This tropical fruit has a nutrient-dense fruit packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and fiber.

Guava has a special place in Cuban Cuisine for its versatility. We use guava in traditional Cuban desserts, such as pastelitos de guayaba, pastries filled with guava paste. These pastries are often enjoyed as a sweet treat or served alongside Cuban espresso.

Beyond desserts, we also use guava in savory dishes like guava bbq chicken wings. The sweetness of the guava complements the savory flavors of the meat, creating a delicious contrast.

pink guava on a white place sliced open

Different Varieties

There are over 30 varieties of guava, each with its own unique characteristics. Some of the most common varieties include the white-fleshed guava and pink-fleshed guava.

  • White-fleshed guavas have green to yellow-ish skin with white flesh, similar to an apple. They are the most common variety and more tangy-sweet in flavor, almost like a mix between a strawberry and a lemon.
  • Pink-fleshed guavas are known as ‘red guavas’ for their pink-reddish insides. They look like limes from the outside with green skin. However, similar to strawberries, they have a sweet, tart flavor and their flesh is juicy and refreshing.

Oh and in case you were wondering… yes, you can eat the guava seeds. In fact, the seeds are edible and contribute to the texture of the fruit!

Where To Buy

We have fresh guava year-round in grocery stores and farmer’s markets here in South Florida. In general, they are available during the warmer months in grocery stores across the country.

When shopping for guavas, look for fruits that are firm with a bit of give (like when you feel a pear for ripeness). Their skin should be green, yellow, or pink, depending on the variety you prefer. And it should smell sweet and tropical!

Guava vs Other Fruits (apple, papaya, passion fruit)

While apples have a crisp texture and mild flavor, papayas are soft and have a sweet, musky taste. Passion fruits are tart and tangy with edible seeds, similar to guava. However, guava stands out with its unique tropical flavor and juicy texture!

Storage

Guavas should be stored at room temperature until ripe. Once ripe, they can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days to prolong freshness. If you have excess guavas, you can freeze them for longer-term storage. Simply slice the guavas, remove the seeds if desired, and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.

What is Guava Paste?

Guava paste is essentially like fruit leather made by cooking the guava fruit with sugar and fresh lime juice until it becomes a very thick [delicious] paste. While the jams and marmalade are drippy, the guava paste is a thick, sticky block that’s soft enough to slice. And it tastes oh so good!

What To Make With Guava

Here are a few Cuban-inspired guava recipes that you must add to your menu rotations this week!

1
Cuban pastries filled with guava paste and cream cheese
4.67 from 117 reviews

Pastelitos de Guayaba Y Queso (Guava & Cheese Pastries)

Cuban pastelitos de guayaba y queso are a quick and easy Cuban dessert made with flaky puff pastry, sweet guava paste, and softened cream cheese. Just 4 ingredients and ready in 20 minutes in the oven after 10 minutes of prep. Serve these Cuban guava pastelitos with Cuban coffee for breakfast or as an afternoon snack!
2
guava margarita on the rocks with a coconut lime salted glass rim and a lime wedge
4.91 from 10 reviews

The Best Guava Margarita (On-the-Rocks!)

A refreshing guava margarita on the rocks! Made with guava nectar, coconut water, fresh lime juice, tequila, and a touch of agave. No margarita mixes here! The coconut-lime salted rim and lots of ice are essential. You'll find instructions for how to make a single serving margarita or a pitcher margaritas for a group.
3
4.94 from 29 reviews

Guava Cake Bars (Cuban Masa Real de Guayaba)

Transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise with these highly-rated Guava Cake Bars, a beloved dessert renowned for its irresistible blend of rich, buttery cake layers embracing a sweet guava paste filling. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, our Masa Real recipe is designed to evoke sweet memories that make it a dessert worth celebrating.
4
4.91 from 10 reviews

Guava BBQ Glazed Chicken Wings

Tangy, sweet chicken wings are tossed with a homemade Cuban sazon completa spice blend and then glazed with a homemade guava bbq sauce. Whether you bake, air fry, or grill these guava bbq chicken wings until crispy perfection, they will always be a hit!
5
4.81 from 21 reviews

Guava BBQ Sauce From Scratch (No Ketchup!)

Tangy, sweet guava BBQ sauce made from scratch without ketchup. Easy-to-make, on the stovetop, and ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for cooking, grilling, and brushing on chicken, pork, ribs, and more. You won't get enough of this Cuban-inspired bbq sauce!
6
5 pieces of brazo gitano that are laid out on a white platter with a fork on the side
5 from 3 reviews

Homemade Brazo Gitano (Guava Swiss Roll)

Discover the delightful flavors of Latin America with our Brazo Gitano de Guayaba (Guava Swiss Roll), a guava jelly roll cake that's made with a soft, fluffy sponge cake filled with luscious guava filling, rolled up, and then dusted with powdered sugar. Bring this guava dessert to life in 25 minutes with my foolproof step-by-step process!
7
4.62 from 21 reviews

DIY Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (15 Minute Recipe!)

This Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink (a Starbucks copycat recipe) takes just 15 minutes to whip up at home. It’s made with unsweetened coconut milk, guava nectar, passionfruit juice, and a 5-minute homemade pineapple-ginger syrup. A tall glass + lots of ice are essential. It’s creamy, slightly sweet and so refreshing — a tropical paradise in a cup!
8
4.87 from 15 reviews

Torticas de Guayaba (Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies)

Classic buttery shortbread thumbprint cookies made with 6 ingredients and filled with sweet and tart guava jam. Just 25 minutes from start to finish! These Torticas de Guayaba (Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies) are similar to my torticas de moron with the exception of the guava. They're great for gift giving too!
9
4.59 from 17 reviews

3-Ingredient Elderflower Guava Mimosa

This refreshingly sweet guava mimosa is made with guava nectar, elderflower liqueur, and champagne. Only 3 ingredients! You'll enjoy notes of strawberry, grapefruit, lychee, and pear in this delicious pale pink cocktail. Perfect for brunch, happy hour, Mother's Day, bridal showers, and just about any day!
10
4.47 from 15 reviews

Homemade Guava Caramel Bread Pudding with Pecans

A Cuban classic with a modern twist! This sweet, moist, cinnamon-spiced (and boozy!) bread pudding recipe drizzled with a homemade guava caramel sauce and crunchy candied maple pecans uses canned sweetened condensed milk as well as evaporated milk. No raisins though, sorry Mom!
11
5 from 8 reviews

Guava Jam Bars with Coconut Macadamia Oat Crumble Topping

Salty, sweet jam bars made with thick guava jam sandwiched between a buttery macadamia nut, shredded coconut, and oat crumble topping. An easy-to-make, simple tropical treat for breakfast, brunch, or any day of the week!
12
4.84 from 12 reviews

Easy Guava Swirl Cheesecake with Maria Cookie Crust

This guava cheesecake is rich and creamy with swirls of guava marmalade on a buttery Maria cookie crust. You and your family won't get enough!
13

Guava BBQ Glazed Meatloaf Recipe

A tender, flavorful, easy meatloaf recipe made with ground beef and ground pork then glazed with a homemade guava bbq sauce.
14
4.45 from 18 reviews

White Chocolate Guava Magic Cookie Bars

Magic cookie bars made with Maria cookies, sweetened condensed milk, guava paste, white chocolate chips, sliced almonds, + toasted coconut.
15
5 from 8 reviews

Guava Cranberry Sauce

An easy and unique cranberry sauce recipe made with a Cuban twist using guava marmalade mixed with whole cranberries and orange juice.
16
shot of muffins swirled with almond butter and guava jelly on top
4.75 from 4 reviews

Almond Butter & Guava Jelly Muffins

Soft, fluffy muffins made with swirled almond butter and guava jelly. A fun spin on PB&J muffins for the perfect on-the-go breakfast!
17
Deliciously sweet treats made with crispy rice cereal, guava marmalade marshmallow cream, cubes of guava paste and crumbled Maria cookies!
5 from 1 review

Guava Rice Krispie Treats with Maria Cookies

Deliciously sweet treats made with crispy rice cereal, guava marmalade marshmallow cream, cubes of guava paste and crumbled Maria cookies!
18
Guava Basil Moscow Mule. A twist to the traditional refreshing Vodka cocktail made with spicy ginger beer, guava nectar, fresh lime and sweet basil. Delicious drink for any time of year!
5 from 2 reviews

Guava Basil Moscow Mule

Guava Basil Moscow Mule. A twist to the traditional refreshing Vodka cocktail made with spicy ginger beer, guava nectar, fresh lime and sweet basil. Delicious drink for any time of year!  
19
Turn everyone's favorite brunch drink into a baked good! Soft, fluffy, baked guava glazed donuts topped with a champagne and guava marmalade glaze!
5 from 2 reviews

Baked Guava Mimosa Glazed Doughnuts

Turn everyone's favorite brunch drink into a guava glazed doughnuts! Soft, fluffy, baked guava glazed donuts topped with a champagne and guava marmalade glaze!
20
Super easy, semi-homemade guava and cream cheese pop tarts made using refrigerated pie crust then topped with a drizzle of condensed milk. The perfect combination of a Cuban treat on an American classic.
5 from 3 reviews

Guava Cheese Pop Tarts

These semi-homemade guava and cream cheese pop tarts are super easy to make using refrigerated pie crust and condensed milk for drizzling. The perfect combination of a Cuban treat on an American classic.