White Guava

White guava fruit is packed with a lot of nutrients, minerals, and compounds that are vital to your health and assist in treating some ailments.

Guava fruit is round  (though sometimes oval depending on the species) is like a pocket rocket! In this article, you will find out the reason why.

What Is Guava?

Guava fruits are typically classified by their colored flesh. It popularly ranges from white-yellow-pink. This fruit is native to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America in the northern regions. 

However, it is grown globally in places like India, South-western Europe, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and some parts of Africa. An intriguing fact about a guava plant is that it can be grown and bear fruit in a pot indoors- something that only a few tropical fruit plants can do.

Typically, if grown from a seed, a guava tree bears within two years and can live to over 40 years! It normally bears from November to April, where mature guava plants/trees can survive a cold atmosphere below  25°F for a short period of time.

Types Of Guava

There are different types or varieties of guava. The most popular ones include:

• White guava or tropic white guava
• Pink guava
• Yellow guava or Yellow strawberry guava
• Lemon guava

Guavas typically have white flower petals with dark leaves that are ovate. Because there are different types, they differ in size, shape, and slightly in taste. One of the most famous tattletales to differentiate amongst them is the color of their pulp and seed.

How To Eat Guava?

Many people eat guava raw. That means you wash the fruit and eat it with the skin! Yes, the skin is edible, unlike many other fruits.

Another method is to use a knife and cut up the fruit into wedges or even scoop out the pulp and enjoy! Whatever method you choose it’s still enjoyable!

If you don’t want to eat it raw, you can cook it or make beverages and other enjoyable food products from it. For example, guava juice, guava smoothie, guava paste, guava jam, guava pie, guava cookies or other pastries, and even guava glaze.

Growing up in Jamaica, we enjoy guava jams, jellies, and drinks. 

What Does Guava Taste Like?

Guava tastes anywhere from super sweet to tart, depending on the variety. It does have a unique fruity taste similar to a pear and a strawberry. 

How To Store Guava?

Just yum! Cut the guavas into wedges and place them in a resealable zipper storage bag or plastic sealed container into your refrigerator-specifically the crisper- where it lasts around four days.

Guava Leaves

Yes, even the leaves are beneficial for you! The leaves are washed and used as a herbal tea that can use to treat diarrhea, may lower blood sugar levels, may lower blood pressure, may act as a pain reliever (abdominal pain like dysmenorrhea-menstruation cramps), and boost the immune system. Read More.

Just pick a few fresh leaves, wash them, and add to a pot of boiling water for a few minutes to brew. After you can add your favorite sweetener! You have yourself a nutritional tea.

Guava leaves can be used for hair care as well. It’s good for hair growth and gets rid of inflammation, itchy scalp, and yes dandruff.

All you need to do is pick fresh leaves and boil them in a pot of hot water for approximately 15 minutes. Allow it to cool and get rid of the leaves by straining the liquid from the pot then use it as a rinse after you shampoo your hair! Leave it in for at least 30 minutes (maximum two hours) then rinse with warm water. Read More.

Where To Buy Guava?

Guavas can be bought at most major supermarkets, Caribbean grocery stores, Asian supermarkets, or farmer’s market if you live in the Southern States. If you have missed spotting the fruit before you can try looking for it again!

What Is White Guava?

 This fruit is packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients that have a smooth exterior that is green-yellow. Its pulp is white/creamy (which gives it the name and the difference from pink guava along with the number of seeds) with a taste of sweetness yet it’s slightly citrus/acidic.

White guava is scientifically called Psidium guajava but otherwise known as tropic white guava or tropic white- where it got its name due to its white/creamy flesh. White guava is from the family-Myrtaceae where it is grown in a tropical and subtropical region. If you have read the article about. Allspice you can recall that it comes from the same family!

White Guava Vs Pink Guava

There are various types of guava, but the most two popular ones are white and pink guavas. The two differ in colors mostly due to the polyphenols and carotenoids (these are compounds found in plants or fruits that give them their pigment/color, especially carotenoid that gives tomato and carrot their color) present in pink guava.

But other constructs like a heavier pulp, more water content, and less sweetness-which are characteristics of pink guava- differentiates the two.

In addition, white guava has a higher source of Vitamin C and taste much sweeter.  Despite, white guava having more sweetness, it is pink guava that is used frequently in fruit juices.

Health Benefits Of White Guava

Guavas are known to be really healthy fruits that are high in numerous nutrients and minerals. The following are nutrients, minerals, and compounds that can be found in white guava:

Calcium– fortify the bones and teeth.

Copper– Assists in the procreation of red blood cells and iron. This nutrient helps to maintain strong bones (prevents osteoporosis), blood vessels, and fights against cardiovascular disease.

Fiber– Dietary fiber assists with digestion, intestinal issues, and constipation.

Folate (Vitamin B9)– Creates red and white blood cells, converts carbohydrates into energy, helps during growth (fetus, infancy, and adolescence stages), produces DNA and RNA.

Iron– This is the main producer of hemoglobin and helps to prevent anemia.

Magnesium– This nutrient is essential for the body to remain healthy. Where it regulates; blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and muscle and nerve functions. It also assists in the production of protein, DNA, and bone.

Manganese– This activates enzymes for metabolism and other bodily chemical processes. In addition, assists with protein (and amino acid) utilization and digestion.

Pectin– A soluble fiber in fruits that is good for treating high cholesterol, may prevent colon and prostate cancer, may improve acid reflux, and may aid in weight loss. This substance gives a nice thickness to pastes that guavas are used in or pies.

Other Amazing Benefits Of White Guava

Phosphorus– Regulates hormone imbalance, aids in cell and tissue growth/repair/maintenance, and aids in digestion. It also assists in the formation of bones and teeth as well as instruct the body on how to use carbohydrates and fats.

Potassium– This mineral helps your cardiac and respiratory muscles (and others) to function/work efficiently and effectively. It also helps with nerve functionality.

Vitamin A– Boosts your vision and immune system as well as helps your lungs, heart, and kidney (Vitamin A assists with the reduction of urinary stone formation) to work properly.

Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)- This nutrient helps the body to store and use energy from carbohydrates and protein. Aids to produce hemoglobin (which prevents anemia) and may help stimulate the thyroid to assist in weight loss.

It also is a mood stabilizer (aids in creating neurotransmitters that regulate mood which may be beneficial to PMS), may treat eye diseases, inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, may reduce the risk of heart diseases and clogged arteries, and may promote brain functionality.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)- This nutrient is a high source in white guava where its content is more potent in this fruit than even orange! The nutrient aids in maintaining the immune system, used to prevent/treat scurvy, protects cells, maintains a healthy cartilage/teeth/bones/skin/blood vessel, assists with wound healing, repair tissues, helps produces enzymes that procreate neurotransmitters, helps with the formation of collagen, absorbs iron and many other body functions.

Vitamin E– Supports immune functionality, improves vision, may lower risk of cancer, helps to prevent inflammation, and may improve skin health.

To Conclude

Did you know that guava is so rich in many nutrients that it may be considered as what marketers call a ‘superfood’? Amazing right? Well, if you’re a little lost a superfood is a title created by marketers to promote plants or fruits that are packed with high sources of nutrients, minerals, and compounds. Disclaimer: superfoods aren’t the only types of food or vegetables that have a high nutritional value to your health or body. All in all, guavas are delectable snacks that are easy to travel with and ‘munch’ on. So, enjoy some whenever you get the next chance to and Bon Appetit!

Other Amazing Fruits To Read About

1. Tuna Fruit
2. Florida Pomelo
3. Naseberry/Sapodilla
4. Papaya
5. Loquat Fruit
6. Ground Cherries
7. Key Lime
8. Seville Orange
9. Guinep
10. Golden Kiwi
11. Egg Fruit
12. Black Sapote

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