Properties: Guanabana
The guava contains important vitamins and minerals. The vitamin C content is actually higher than in the orange. The guava also contains many dietary fibers. The antioxidant properties have a positive effect on the skin. The guava is a tropical fruit with many beneficial properties. It is rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and copper. Guavas also contain carotenoids and flavonoids that can have anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects. The fruit has a green to yellow peel and the flesh is usually pink or white and has a sweet-sour taste. Guavas are often eaten raw or processed into juice, jam, or compote.
Origin: Guanabana
The guava is a popular fruit in many countries around the world and is cultivated in numerous tropical and subtropical regions. Besides Mexico, guavas are also grown in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and various African countries. Originally, the guava comes from Central and South America. It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and can be harvested year-round. Today, it is cultivated throughout the tropics.
Uses: Guanabana
Guavas can be enjoyed in various ways. They can be eaten raw by halving the fruit, scooping out the flesh, and removing the seeds, while the peel should not be consumed. Guavas can also be processed into juice by mixing the fruit flesh with water and pressing it through a sieve or juicer. For jam or jelly, the fruit flesh is cooked, mixed with sugar and lemon juice, and thickened to a viscous consistency. Additionally, guavas can be used in smoothies to give them an exotic touch. Interestingly, guavas can also be used in hearty dishes like salads or salsas to add a sweet note.
Storage: Guanabana
Select ripe guavas that yield to slight pressure, or allow firmer guavas to ripen at room temperature. It is advisable to store guavas in the refrigerator, especially if they are already ripe or need to be stored for longer periods. If you must store a cut guava, wrap it in plastic film or keep it in an airtight container. Guavas should ideally be consumed within two to three days to ensure their freshness. Store guavas separately from other fruits to avoid affecting their flavor. You also have the option to freeze or dry guavas for long-term storage.
Health: Guanabana
Guavas are not only delicious but also extremely nutritious and offer a variety of health benefits. These include their high content of Vitamin C for strengthening the immune system, their rich fiber content, their low glycemic index which helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels, as well as their abundance in antioxidants such as Vitamin C and phytonutrients. Additionally, the high beta-carotene content in guavas can contribute to maintaining eye health.
Season of Guanabana: The guava season varies depending on the region and climate where guavas are grown. Guavas are available year-round in tropical and subtropical regions, as they can grow under favorable conditions there. In these regions, there may be no specific season for guavas, as they can be harvested all year round.
In some temperate regions where the climate is not suitable for growing guavas throughout the entire year, there might be a particular harvest time for guavas. This harvest time often falls in late summer or autumn. For example, the guava season in parts of North America can last from July to October.
Guanabana taste: sweet-and-sour aromatic
What is a Guava
The taste of guavas is hard to describe. Exotic or Thai is relative. Perhaps one can imagine the taste better when described like this: a successful blend of figs, pears, quinces, and strawberries. For consumption, usually the true guava is used. It only differs in plant size from the guava. The true guava grows on trees reaching heights of up to 13 meters. The true guava is ripe for picking three to four months after blooming. Once harvested, it must be processed quickly as it can only last a few days unrefrigerated. If cooled, they keep for two to three weeks.
Special Features of the Guava
Guavas do not necessarily have to be processed in their homeland. It works like with bananas. They are harvested in the hard-ripe state, meaning essentially unripe. Then they come to our market. This goes smoothly as they ripen at room temperature and thus reach the ideal ripe stage. One can eat a guava like a kiwi, that is, cut it open and scoop out the flesh. The seeds contained in the fruit pulp can be eaten but should not be chewed. Since they are all centrally located, they can also be removed before consumption. As the guava itself is very pressure-sensitive and does not store well, it is advisable to rely on packaged products such as a can. Here one should opt for canned guavas in syrup as here the unique taste is excellently preserved.
Important Nutrients for the Human Organism
The guava contains many important nutrients for humans. It contains 0.06 mg of retinol. The daily requirement of retinol is 0.1 mg. Retinol is essential for growth, as well as function and structure of skin and mucous membranes, blood cells, metabolism, and not to forget vision. Furthermore, a guava contains 0.05 mg of thiamine. The need for women is 1.1 mg and for men 1.3 mg. Thiamine is indispensable for the function of the nervous system. A guava is rich in pectin, which is utilized by humans like dietary fiber. Additionally, the guava contains a lot of ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. The daily requirement is 100 mg. A single guava contains 200 mg of ascorbic acid.