What is a guava and what is it for?

what is a guava

what is a guava

Do you know what a guava is? Have you seen them in the supermarket or in the greengrocers but have not dared to buy it? Or maybe yes, but when you’ve tried it you’ve ended up throwing it away (or on the contrary, tasting it).

There is no doubt that guavas are a strange fruit of taste and smell, but perhaps what you don’t know about it is how beneficial it can be. Therefore, we are going to focus today on her and talk to you at length so that you give her a chance. Even if it’s covering your nose with some varieties.

what is a guava

yellow and green guavas

yellow and green guavas

The first thing you should know about guava is that we are talking about a tropical fruit. Its origin is in Central and South America. and, although the ones that are often seen are the yellow ones, the truth is that there are different varieties and colors. Even shapes and sizes.

It can be eaten without further ado, although it is not a fruit that we can say is… sweet. The truth is that it is usually associated with the smell of cat urine, so many times, especially when ripe, it can sometimes be unpleasant. To this we must add the fact that it is a fruit with a fairly strong flavor, not one of those that you are used to eating often. We could say that it is even stronger than the mango.

Characteristics

For all of the above, we can say that guava has some characteristics that differentiate it from other fruits, such as:

  • They are in the form of redondas and ovaladas. It is characteristic, although depending on how it grows it may become more oval or stay rounder.
  • Its size. In this regard we must tell you that you have variables. Some can be as small as golf balls (and it’s not because they were caught prematurely but because they are that way); but others can be as big as a tennis ball.
  • The color of the guava differs on the outside and inside. Regarding the exterior, the most common is yellow, but the truth is that there are varieties that can have dark or even pink skin. As for the interior, most of it is in a cream color.
  • The texture of the pulp is said to be juicy, but it is not soft or sweet.. It has quite a strong point of acidity and this varies depending on whether the fruit is more or less ripe. The same goes for the texture. Inside the pulp itself are also the seeds. They are edible, so it will depend on each one who wants to eat them or not.

The guava, is it a fruit or vegetable?

branch with guava

branch with guava

If you are looking for a quick and direct answer, we will tell you that guava is a fruit. Although it may taste a little different from other more common fruits, such as apples or strawberries, belongs to the fruit group because it develops from the ovary of the flower and contains the seeds of the plant.

Neither it can be considered a vegetable.

Now, it is true that guava can be used both for main dishes and for pastries or as accompaniments.

What is guava used for?

After you have seen that the guava is one of the rarest fruits and that not everyone likes it, why would a person eat it? Well, mainly because it has many health benefits.

We talk about some of them:

  • Strengthens the immune system: Among the properties that guava has, one of them is being rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that will help you improve your immunity and you will not catch so many diseases (or these are milder).
  • Improves digestion: Thanks to the amount of dietary fiber it has, problems such as constipation will not be part of your day to day. In addition, it will help you to improve digestion.
  • Reduces the risk of chronic diseases: Vitamin C is not the only antioxidant that guava has, but there are more along with bioactive compounds. These act against chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer or heart problems. For example, in the case of diabetes, when this fruit became known, it was said that it was used to regulate blood sugar levels.
  • Control blood pressure: Especially since it is an important source of potassium that helps you regulate both blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.
  • improves skin: In addition to vitamin C, it also has collagen, so the combination of both helps keep your skin nourished, firm and healthy.
  • prevent infections: By having elements with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, these act as a barrier to prevent infections that you face in your day to day.

Why does guava smell so bad?

green guavas on branch

green guavas on branch

As we have told you, guava smells bad. But it’s not always like this. There are many people who like that smell. In addition, everything will depend on the variety you buy, since some may have a sweet and fruity aroma; and others being a problem to have them inside the house.

Some of the factors that affect the smell of guavas son:

  • Maturity. The more mature it is, the more unpleasant its smell can become. In fact, they mature very quickly so you should be careful when buying them if you are not going to consume them relatively soon.
  • where you place it. If you put it in a humid or warm place, the fruit will ripen much faster, and it will give off that smell.
  • Variety. As we told you before, there are some guavas that have a stronger odor than others.

Keep in mind that the fact that it has an unpleasant odor may not mean that it is bad. Actually, it could be eaten if the texture, appearance and taste is good.

Important care of the guava

Finally, and although we have a file specialized in the cultivation of guava, we want to leave you here the essential care that this tree must have so that it gives you a good harvest:

  • Irrigation: Guava needs regular watering to grow properly. Of course, an irrigation that keeps the soil moist, but not that it floods it.
  • Subscriber: At least during the spring and summer months you will need a monthly subscription (or bi-weekly if you are very productive).
  • Pruning: You have to remove dead or diseased branches and leaves to help you focus energy where you need it.
  • Protection against pests and diseases: It is quite prone to suffering from pests and diseases.
  • Harvest: The right time to harvest is when you feel the guava soft to the touch and see that it changes color.

Have you ever tried guava? What did you feel when doing it? Would you dare to try it if you haven’t?

What is a guava and what is it for?

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