Guava: The Exotic Superfruit with a Rich History and Health Benefits

Guava has been a favorite of humans for many centuries, and this fact has been well documented. This is due to the fact that throughout South America and the Caribbean, numerous people began cultivating the fruit long before corn and beans were domesticated and cultivated.

The Guava Tree and Its Fruit: A Colorful and Flavorful Delight

The Psidium guajava tree is an evergreen shrub that grows to a moderate size and bears fruits that range in color depending on the variety. The peel, which is typically greenish in color but can also be yellow or, less frequently, violet, and the pulp, which is typically white in color but can also be pink or purple. The flavor is aromatic, sweet, and exotic; it can remind you of a peach with tones of vanilla and menthol. The pulp is buttery, and it can remind you of either pear or melon.

Guava is a formidable ally for the stomach, as well as the skin and the rest of the digestive system, in particular the pancreas.

Guava’s calorie count, nutritional profile, and other characteristics

A single serving (100 grams) of guava has 68 calories.

We are speaking about a fruit that is a veritable treasure trove of vitamin C (four times that of oranges), followed by moderate levels of the entire spectrum of B vitamins as well as minerals such as copper, phosphorus, manganese, and potassium.

Carotenoids, anthocyanins, and retinoids are the three types of phytochemicals that contribute to the pigmentation of fruits and vegetables. Fiber, carbohydrates, and omega-3 fatty acids are all present in adequate quantities in this food.

Since ancient times, people have used this plant as a medicine to treat conditions such as nausea, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, toothache, and infections. Studies conducted in 2013 demonstrated that it possesses an excellent specific action against diabetes mellitus, and studies conducted in 2012 demonstrated that it possessed the ability to act against tumor cells.

It also has the ability to soothe ulcers and skin diseases, in addition to having antiviral properties.

Find out about some of the other foods that are packed with vitamin C like guava.
The vitamin C

Fun facts

It is commonly found sprinkled with ground chili pepper and sold as a snack on the street in many countries. The Aztecs were familiar with the fruit, and they gave it the name Xalxocotl, which translates to “sand plum.“

The origins of the guava fruit

Botanists believe that Europeans discovered the guava fruit in a region spanning from Brazil to the Caribbean. Once they did so, they recognized its value as a result of the extremely high percentage of vitamin C it contained and began consuming it on sea voyages to protect themselves against scurvy. This allowed it to make its way to the African and Asian colonies, both of which proved to be fertile breeding grounds for the disease.

What is guava used for in cooking?

Although the peel can be eaten, most people find it more convenient to cut the fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Because the seeds are so incredibly tough, it is best to refrain from chewing on them in order to protect your teeth from potential injury. It is the perfect component for a wide variety of recipes, including desserts, juices, ice creams, and mustards, among others.