How to Eat Guava

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24 Recipe Ratings | Success Stories

Co-authored by Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM

Last Updated: September 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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Guava are a delicious fruit whose juice has, on occasion, been referred to as 'the nectar of the gods.' Don't just get caught up on the juice--whole guava can be a sweet snack that will make you feel like you're in paradise even when you're sitting in your cubicle. Read this wikiHow to learn how to select, prepare, and eat guava.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Picking out the Perfect Guava

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1
Look for the softest guava you can find. The softer a guava is, the sweeter and more delicious it will be. Keep in mind that because guavas are best when extremely soft, they are also extremely perishable. Once you purchase or pick your guavas, you should have about two days before they go bad, depending on how ripe the fruit is when you purchase it.^{[1]
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- In order to tell if a guava is ripe, squeeze it gently. If it gives under your fingers, its ripe.
You want to try to select guavas that are blemish-free. Blemishes or bruises can mean the fruit is bad or will not taste good.^{[2]
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Ripe guavas are those that have gone from bright green to a softer yellowish-green color. If you see a touch of pink on the fruit, it is in its prime. If you don't find any that are yellow, you can always buy green guava and wait for them to ripen.^{[3]
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A perfectly ripe guava is one that you can smell without even putting it to your nose. It should smell sweet and slightly musky. If you have eaten a guava before, look for guavas that smell like they taste.^{[4]
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Part 2

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Washing and Cutting

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You should wash the entire guava, as the rinds are actually edible. Rinse the fruit with cold water in an effort to quell any bacterial growth. Pat your guavas dry with paper towels.
2
Place your guava on a cutting board. Using a knife, slice your guava in half. Serrated knives usually work best when cutting open a guava. Some guavas have pink flesh, some have white flesh.^{[5]
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- You can either cut them in half or slice them up into thinner slices.
You can either eat the whole guava (rind and all) or scoop out the insides. Either way, you're in for a delicious treat. Some people like to put seasonings on their guavas like soy sauce, salt, sugar, or even vinegar.^{[6]
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You can wrap uneaten guava halves in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for up to four days. If you don't think you will eat the guavas within four days, you should freeze your guava. Frozen guavas can stay in the freezer for up to eight months.^{[7]
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Part 3

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Other Ideas for What to do with Guava

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Make guava barbecue sauce, a delicious sweet and salt combo that will make you feel like you're feasting in paradise.^{[8]
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Bored with the classic berry danish? Why not try adding some excitement to your morning meal.^{[9]
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Make delicious guava jello. Skip the normal jello flavors dive and into something a bit more tropical. You can even make jello with actual guava chunks in it!
Rather than mixing orange juice with sparkling wine, try some guava juice in a Hermosa mimosa instead. Just pour the sparkling wine, a dash of guava juice and two or three maraschino cherries.

Sample Recipes

Ways to Incorporate Guava Into Meals

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Can guava leaf tea help to lose weight?

Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM
Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist
Tracy Zollinger (she/her) is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and the Founder of Island Acupuncture in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of experience, Tracy specializes in a holistic approach to reproductive health, fertility, and pre and post-natal care. Tracy creates comprehensive treatment plans using acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and western labs. She holds a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences and is board certified in integrative reproductive medicine, with a focus on LGBTQIA specific needs.

Tracy Zollinger Dipl. OM, L.Ac., FABORM

Licensed Herbalist & Acupuncturist

Expert Answer

Guava leaves are great for weight loss if your weight loss issue is about blood glucose levels or improper digestion. If your issue is that you're eating a lot of sweets, guava leaves are not going to help you lose weight. You need to actually change your diet, but they can help you be more efficient at the things you're digesting. If you're not a fan of tea, you can add the leaves into food or take them as a powder or capsule.

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What part of the Guava do you eat?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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You can eat any part of the guava. This includes the flesh, the seeds, and even the rind. Make sure the rind has been washed before trying to eat it. If you don’t like the rind, just peel it off before eating the flesh.

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Do you eat the seeds of a guava?

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The guava seeds are totally edible and are usually left in the fruit when sliced or scooped out. They’re a good source of fiber, so enjoy them!

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Tips

Know when it's ripe--guava usually turns yellow, maroon, or green when it is ripe.

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Be careful when eating guavas as they do have seeds. These seeds are edible but are hard to chew, so be careful when giving small children guavas.

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Here in Mumbai (and probably everywhere in India) street vendors sprinkle a little salt and chilli powder on guava slices. Delicious!

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Add ginger and other ingredients to guava juice, smoothies, and slushies to spice up your drinks!
Every part of the guava is edible, including the seeds.

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