Strawberry Guava: Ready to Uncover Their Sweet Little Secrets?

Looking for a unique, flavourful addition to your tropical garden? Try growing strawberry guava. Nestled beneath their smooth, glossy skin is a sweet and sour flavour that will surprise you.

Intrigued? Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader or simply curious, read on to uncover the sweet secrets of this tropical wonder. You won’t regret adding this unusual shrub to your garden.

Introduction to Strawberry Guava

Strawberry guava is a fascinating fruit that deserves more attention from tropical homesteaders. Here we’ll explore its origins and describe its unusual taste and appearance.

What is a Strawberry Guava?

Strawberry guava, or Psidium cattleianum, is an attractive evergreen shrub with a vibrant fruit that packs a punch. It’s not like a typical guava. Strawberry guava is uniquely different in both colour and size.

Strawberry guava, also known as cherry guava or Cattley guava, is so named due to its colourful, tasty fruit. The fruit is dark green when unripe but once it's ready to eat, it turns red and becomes soft and juicy.

Origin and History

Strawberry guava originates in tropical and subtropical South America, most likely Brazil. It has been growing there for centuries. Due to its popularity and adaptability, the shrub has spread to other tropical regions.

Strawberry guava now grows in places like Hawaii and Australia. Its hardy nature and delicious fruit have made it a favourite for commercial and home gardeners. However, it can be a pest in some areas.

Strawberry Guava Appearance

The strawberry guava shrub has glossy green leaves and smooth papery bark. It is prized both as an ornamental and an edible fruit tree with fragrant white flowers and beautiful jewel-like fruit.

Strawberry guavas are similar in size to walnuts. The ripe fruit has pink to reddish skin and juicy, white flesh dotted with tiny seeds. You can eat it whole, but the seeds are hard, so we usually discard them.

Strawberry Guava Taste

So, what does strawberry guava taste like? It’s difficult to describe the taste exactly but it's a delightful mix of sweet and sour, reminiscent of strawberries but with the tang of guava and passionfruit.

The aroma is also captivating, making your mouth water when you cut it open. What's certain, is that you will not forget the flavour in a hurry! It is an interesting fruit to share with friends and family.

How to Grow Strawberry Guava

This resilient shrub is perfect for tropical climates like ours. This section will cover what you need to know about cultivating and harvesting its fruit to enjoy a plentiful supply in your backyard.

Ideal Climate

Strawberry guavas love sunny climates with mild winters. They thrive in warm temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and are suitable for subtropical and tropical growing regions.

If you live in a cool climate, consider growing strawberry guava in a pot indoors or in a greenhouse. Although strawberry guava will tolerate some temperature fluctuations, prolonged cold will kill them.

Soil Requirements

Strawberry guavas grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Use a rich, loamy mix that retains moisture but doesn’t stay soggy. Adding organic matter will also benefit your tree.

Our soil has a high clay content, which can sometimes become waterlogged, particularly during the wet season. We therefore planted our shrub on a mound to help with drainage.

Planting Tips

Strawberry guava likes plenty of sunlight, so choose a sunny spot to plant your shrub with some afternoon shade. 6-8 hours of full sun daily will ensure optimal fruit production.

Dig a hole two times as big as the root ball, add the plant, and backfill the hole with soil and compost. Water it thoroughly. Adding mulch will protect the root ball and help to keep the soil moist.

Care Tips

Regular watering is key, especially whilst establishing your plant. Fertilise with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser every few months to ensure you get an abundant crop at harvest time.

Trim any dead or overcrowded branches to keep the shrub healthy and productive. Regular pruning is essential in the tropics as the leaves can develop lichen or mould due to high humidity.

Harvesting

The fruit is ready when it is pinkish-red and slightly soft. When ripe, it will drop to the ground, or you can gently twist it off its stem. Be prepared, as strawberry guavas often ripen at the same time!

A good tip is to place a tarpaulin underneath your tree. If you shake the tree, ripe fruit will fall onto the tarpaulin, making them easy to collect. Don’t leave the ripe fruit for too long though as the bats and birds love them too!

Preservation

Strawberry guava can be eaten fresh or preserved. They will keep in the fridge without rotting for a few weeks, but bruise easily, causing discolouration. Therefore it is better to preserve larger harvests.

Try making jams or jellies. The fruit also freezes well. You can freeze strawberry guava whole or in slices. You can also puree the fruit and freeze in an ice cube tray for a taste of summer all year round.

Health Benefits of Strawberry Guava

Strawberry guava isn’t just delicious—it’s full of nutrients too. Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fibre. Here, we’ll highlight some of its most significant health benefits and why it’s a fantastic addition to your diet.

Rich in Vitamin C

Strawberry guava is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is vital for your health, helping maintain a healthy immune system and reducing the effects of colds and similar infections.

A cup of strawberry guava provides 100% of your recommended daily vitamin C intake. So even a handful of these little fruits can go a long way towards meeting your daily dose!

Full of Antioxidants

As well as vitamin C, strawberry guavas are bursting with many other vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These antioxidants fight off free radicals, the nasty molecules that can harm your cells.

Eating strawberry guava regularly may help keep your body strong and healthy. It may also do impressive things for your skin, protecting it from damage and reducing the signs of ageing.

Improves Digestion

Strawberry guava is rich in dietary fibre, essential for a healthy digestive system. Eating plenty of fibre will aid bowel movements and prevent issues such as constipation.

The fibre in strawberry guava can help you feel full for longer, which is excellent for maintaining a healthy weight. In addition, strawberry guavas are low in calories, a ‘win-win’ for dieters.

Differences Between Strawberry Guava and Regular Guava

While strawberry and regular guava share some similarities, their appearance, flavour and nutritional profile are distinctly different. Here, we’ll highlight some of the main differences.

Appearance

Strawberry guavas are small and red. They range in size from a small marble to a large walnut. Regular guavas are much larger and come in various colours, from green to yellow.

Strawberry guavas have white flesh with tiny brown seeds. Regular guavas can have white, pink or even bright red flesh. Their seeds vary depending upon the species and include some seedless varieties.

Flavour

Strawberry guavas have an unusual flavour which is hard to describe. It’s both sweet and tart at the same time! Some say its tropical flavour is reminiscent of strawberries or passionfruit.

Regular guavas have a milder, more refreshing flavour, like a pear. However, they still have a tartness to them. Both regular guava and strawberry guava taste and smell delicious.

Nutritional Content

Nutritionally, both fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, strawberry guavas have slightly more calcium, antioxidants and fibre than regular guava.

Regular guavas are full of vitamins, with an impressive 250% of your recommended daily vitamin C intake! They are also good sources of folate and potassium. Both guavas are healthy choices.

Culinary Uses of Strawberry Guava

Strawberry guava is incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Whether fresh or cooked, this fruit shines in a variety of dishes. This section will share some of the best ways to enjoy strawberry guava in your diet.

Fresh Consumption

Eating strawberry guava fresh is a delicious treat. Pick the fruit straight from your tree, wash it and pop it into your mouth. The juicy, sweet-tart flavour is refreshing, especially on a hot day.

The whole strawberry guava fruit is edible, including the skin, but beware as the seeds are hard. Biting on a seed is not a pleasant experience, so carefully chew the flesh and spit the seeds out.

Strawberry Guava Jam

Strawberry guavas make fantastic jams and jellies. Their natural pectin helps thicken and set the mixture. You can combine strawberry guavas with other fruits for even more delicious and exotic flavours.

To make a basic jam, cook the fruit with sugar, pectin and lemon juice, then strain to remove the seeds. Strawberry guava jam is delicious spread on everything from toast to scones.

Strawberry Guava Drinks

Try using strawberry guava in drinks for a tropical twist. Add some guavas to your morning smoothie to increase its nutritional value or try adding to cocktails for a refreshing treat.

You could swap the strawberries in your prosecco for a fresh strawberry guava or frozen pureed ice cube. The flavour also pairs well with other tropical fruits like mango and pineapple.

Specific Strawberry Guava Recipes

If you’re ready to get creative, these strawberry guava recipes are a great place to start. From smoothies to salsa and cocktails, these recipes showcase the fruit’s vibrant flavour and make it easy to incorporate into your cooking.

Strawberry Guava Smoothie

Want to up your morning or post-workout smoothie game? Try blending a handful of strawberry guavas with a banana, a cup of yoghurt, a splash of orange juice and some ice cubes.

This smoothie is delicious and packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You could use a plant-based yoghurt to make your smoothie vegan and choose any fruit or juice you like.

Strawberry Guava Salsa

Fancy making some Mexican food for dinner tonight? Try adding strawberry guava to your salsa for a tropical twist. This unusual tropical pico de gallo will delight your taste buds.

Chop strawberry guavas, tomatoes, red onion, and coriander and drizzle with lime juice, salt, and honey. This salsa is great with chips, tacos, or a topping for grilled fish or chicken.

Strawberry Guava Cocktail

The sky's the limit when making a refreshing strawberry guava cocktail. Add strawberry guavas to everything from mojitos to daiquiris. You could even invent a new cocktail!

Try muddling a few strawberry guavas or pureed ice cubes with mint leaves and sugar. Add ice, your favourite liquor, and top with soda. Garnish with a slice of lime and more guava.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Strawberry Guavas Like Sun or Shade?

Strawberry guava grows best when it has plenty of sunlight, however, it will tolerate partial shade. Strawberry guava also benefits from afternoon shade in hot climates to prevent scorching.

How Long Does it Take for Strawberry Guava to Fruit?

If you plant a small shrub, it should fruit in its second or third year. Most strawberry guavas are prolific fruiters. Be prepared at harvest time as most of your crop will ripen simultaneously.

How Tall Do Strawberry Guava Trees Get?

Strawberry guavas are compact but can reach up to three metres in height. After harvesting, you should prune your tree to remove dead or diseased branches and help keep its shape.

Is Strawberry Guava Self-Pollinating?

Strawberry guavas are self-pollinating, so you only need one tree to produce fruit.

Is Strawberry Guava Invasive?

Strawberry guava can be invasive as it tolerates shady conditions and competes with the understorey species of native forests. Strawberry guava is a serious weed in Hawaii and on Norfolk Island.

To minimise the risk, keep your shrub well pruned and compact. You should harvest any ripe fruit immediately and remove fallen fruit to deter birds and animals from eating them.

Try Growing Some Strawberry Guava Today

Strawberry guava is a remarkable fruit. It may be small but its unique taste makes it an exciting addition to your garden. It is easy to grow and its health benefits are also impressive.

Whether you eat it fresh or use it in other recipes, strawberry guava is a versatile and delicious addition to your diet. So why wait? Start growing strawberry guava in your tropical garden today!