We just harvested our first decent crop of Guava’s! Yes, we have an adorable Guava tree which grew in our garden from seeds in our home-made compost – it just popped up in one of our flower beds one day! Guavas normally only grow in tropical regions, they like heat and water, so to have one thriving in our garden in Johannesburg, South Africa is an unexpected delight.
My family just love Guavas and we always eagerly await autumn when this delicious queen of fruits finds its way into local stores. Their gorgeous, inviting pink colour just begs to be included in fruit salads and platters and they are fast becoming considered a Superfruit because of their uniquely high nutritional value. So even when Guava’s aren’t in season, you can halve them and freeze in airtight bags to use throughout the year!
What’s in it for me?
Guavas are one of the richest fruits in Vitamin C. One guava has more than TWICE the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C and is a good source of Vitamins A & E. They are also packed with antioxidants, fibre and minerals like Magnesium & Folate and are said to have less sugar, when eaten raw, than apples, oranges and grapes, so they are low in calories.
Including Guava’s into your diet helps regulate your digestion, contributes towards heart health, can help reduce blood pressure, lower LDL/bad cholesterol & increase HDL/good cholesterol, help to slow ageing of skin and are good for eyesight.
You won’t beLEAF it!
Did you know that guava leaves can be boiled in water for 20 minutes to make Guava Leaf Tea which is said to have a wide range of health benefits including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and amazingly is credited with improving scalp health and reducing hair loss is used directly as a rinse on hair. As I am fortunate to have my very own tree, I’ll definitely have to give Guava Leaf Tea a try!
And it doesn’t end there, Guava leaves are used in the textile industry in making black pigment. UnbeLEAFable ☺.
My husband loves all things Guava including stewed Guava and Guava roll – both of which I have perfected and serve often but I only recently realized that Guava Coulis is an absolutely delicious, quick, nutritious dish that can be eaten as is or with yoghurt for breakfast or layered with sweetened cream and honey for a delicious, light tropic inspired dessert. Why not make a deliciously refreshing guava drink by adding Pink Guava Coulis to ice and water – YUM!
Here’s my Guava Coulis Recipe for you to try:
Pink Guava Coulis
- 3 – 4 ripe guavas
- 30 ml honey (or sugar)
- 15 ml water
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
METHOD:
- Top and tail the guavas and cut into chunks.
- Place the guava chunks into a blender/bowl.
- Add honey, water, lemon juice to the guava chunks and blend until smooth (use a hand held blender or high speed smoothie blender).
- Place a sieve over a bowl and pour the pureed guava mixture into it. Use a spoon to force the mixture through the sieve to remove the pips.
- Chill the guava coulis in the fridge for a few hours.
(serves 2 – 4)
