Mexican Cream Guavas
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
This item was last sold on : 03/07/25
Description/Taste
Mexican Cream guavas are a smaller variety that typically measures 5 to 7.5 centimeters in diameter and weighs between 180 and 318 grams. Their rounded fruits may resemble the shape of a pear or lemon. They have pale yellow skin often with a red blush and slight bruising or speckling. This thin skin is slightly uneven yet smooth and shiny. Mexican Cream guavas have a thick, juicy, cream-colored flesh that is soft and succulent thanks to their high concentration of liquid. Within this flesh is a small center cavity that holds a handful of soft edible seeds. Mexican Cream guavas have an aroma and flavor reminiscent of pineapple and passion fruit. Their sweet tropical taste includes notes of strawberry and papaya.
Seasons/Availability
Mexican Cream guavas are available year-round in tropical climates, with peak seasons in fall and winter. In Southern California, they are harvested during the fall.
Current Facts
Mexican Cream guavas are botanically classified as Psidium guajava and belong to the Myrtaceae family along with rose apples, allspice, cloves, Surinam cherries, and Eucalyptus. This variety is native to Mexico and is also referred to as Tropical Yellow guavas. There are over 30 different varieties of guavas that are often categorized by whether they have yellow, white, red, or pink flesh. Mexican Cream guavas contain white flesh and grow in clusters on trees that can reach up to 10 meters in height and spread about 3 to 9 meters wide. These trees are valued in edible landscaping for their colorful fruits, aromatic scent, and small white flowers. The sweet flavor of Mexican Cream guavas makes them a favorite in culinary applications like pastries, juices, and jams.
Nutritional Value
Mexican Cream guavas are a good source of vitamin C that plays a crucial role in boosting the immune system, promoting healthy skin, and acting as a powerful antioxidant to protect cells from damage. These fruits are also rich in vitamin A. This vitamin is vital for maintaining good vision, supporting healthy skin, and promoting proper immune function. Mexican Cream guavas contain potassium that helps regulate blood pressure, support heart health, and ensure proper muscle and nerve function. This variety provides folate that encourages healthy cell division and is crucial for pregnant women to support fetal development and prevent birth defects. Amazonian tribes use all portions of the Mexican Cream guava for medicinal purposes. Their leaves and bark are boiled into a concoction that's used to treat digestive issues, sore throats, and vertigo.
Applications
Mexican Cream guavas are primarily consumed fresh but can also be baked or preserved. To remove their seeds, slice them lengthwise and cut the white flesh into chunks. These fruits may be eaten fresh out of hand as a snack or sliced into fruit bowls, salads, yogurt parfaits, smoothies, and acai bowls. Mexican Cream guavas can be boiled down to make marmalade, sauces, and syrups. They’re often incorporated into desserts like cake, sorbet, ice cream, pastries, and pies. These guavas are also frequently turned into a paste that’s paired with mascarpone or cream cheese to create a Mexican dish known as bocadillo con queso. This variety is commonly used to make beverages like wine, smoothies, juices, and guava nectar. Mexican Cream guavas pair well with lime, honey, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, mint, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, mangoes, pineapple, oranges, coconut, simple syrup, and chilis. They can be stored at room temperature for about 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Mexico, guavas like the Mexican Cream variety are frequently used to make agua de guayaba. This is an agua fresca beverage that’s concocted by blending water, sugar, and guavas. Agua de guayaba is sold at stalls and dessert shops in different regions of Mexico including the city of Calvillo in the state of Aguascalientes. This city is considered to be one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos, a magical town marked by transcendental events that have shaped the national identity and culture of Mexico. Calvillo is often called the guava capital of the world because of how many tons of guavas are produced there annually. Within the city, guavas are featured in pastries, candies, beers, cocktails, and pizzas. They are also used to make mole at a restaurant called Alebrije. This sauce mixes guava with chiles, salt, garlic, and onions and is served on top of chicken, enchiladas, and other traditional dishes.
Geography/History
Mexican Cream guavas are native to Mexico and Central America. They flourish in tropical and subtropical climates with wet conditions, full sun exposure, and partial shade. Ideal growing temperatures fall between 21 and 29 degrees Celcius but these fruits can occasionally survive temperatures that fall below freezing. Mexican Cream guavas are a cultivated variety that’s often sown in orchards, farms, and home gardens. The exact migration of these fruits is not precisely known but it's believed they reached the West Indies by the early 16th century. Mexican Cream guavas eventually spread south to the Amazon, north to Florida, Hawaii, and California, and east to India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. This variety can be found in farmers' markets, specialty fruit stores, and Mexican grocery stores within these regions and their native areas.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Mexican Cream Guavas. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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