Guavasteen – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries

What is guavasteen?

Guavasteen is an unusual fruit native to South America. It’s known by many other names, including feijoa, pineapple guava, fig guava, and Brazilian guava. Despite what the name might suggest, guavasteen and guava are not the same fruit. In fact, there are many differences between the two.

Guavasteen is a small, oval-shaped fruit about the same size as a chicken egg. It has a green peel on the outside and a white layer surrounding the light pink fleshy inside, where the seeds hide.

These fruits are also known for smelling very fragrant—so much so that they’re sometimes used in cosmetic products. On top of that, this fruit is beloved by many for its sweet flavor. It tastes like a cross between pineapple, melon, banana, and strawberry. To some, it also has a lemony hint.

Although the green peel is bitter, the white and pink parts can be enjoyed fresh, eaten with a spoon, or peeled whole. If the grittier texture bothers you, guavasteen can be blended with other fruits to make a tropical smoothie or even turned into a jam. In some curry and chutney recipes (guide to chutneys), guavasteen even shows up as a sweetener.

Where did guavasteen originate from?

Originally, guavasteen grew only in southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay, northern Argentina, and Colombia. The mild, semi-dry conditions in these regions are perfect for guavasteen—which comes from the Feijoa sellowiana plant—to thrive.

However, with time, guavasteen spread around the globe. Today, it’s also grown in New Zealand, Azerbaijan, and the country of Georgia. Additionally, this fruit is cultivated in several warmer U.S. states, namely in California, Texas, and Georgia.

How is guavasteen grown?

The Feijoa sellowiana plant is a bush that can grow to be 15ft in width and height. Once established, it’s relatively easy to care for. Since it is drought tolerant, guavasteen can survive in drier climates without needing frequent watering. It’s best adapted to live in U.S. hardiness zones 8 through 11.

First, seedlings or cuttings are planted in-ground or in a pot of well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7. This bush needs at least 8 hours of full sun to thrive. The best harvests happen after cool winters and mild summers. Generally speaking, the warmer the weather, the less plentiful the harvest will be.

After 3 or 5 years, these shrubs are mature enough to put out white, fragrant flowers. Then, 4.5 to 7 months later, the first fruits start to appear. Although guavasteen fruit ripens once it’s been picked, the sweetest fruits are those that fall with a gentle shaking of the bush.

When is guavasteen fruit in season?

Guavasteen grown in the United States is a fall fruit: it is in season from late September to December. That said, guavasteen grown in New Zealand ripens from March through June, which means you can find it in stores during spring.

What is the nutritional value of guavasteen?

Like many other fruits, guavasteen is primarily made of water. As such, it is not a calorie- or nutrient-dense food. 100g of raw, peeled guavasteen has:

• 61 calories
• 0.7g of protein
• 0.4g of fat
• 15.2g of carbs

Yet, guavasteen is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Namely, 100g of this fruit contains 32.9mg of vitamin C—close to 50% of the daily recommended intake for an adult.

How do you pick guavasteen at the grocery store?

Choose guavasteen fruits that smell sweet and fragrant. You can also give them a gentle squeeze and pick the softer (but still plump) ones. These are the 2 most reliable signs of ripeness.

Bruised guavasteen aren’t necessarily bad. Because this fruit bruises easily, it’s normal for some dark spots to appear on the skin. As long as the skin isn’t broken, they smell fruity, and they’re slightly soft to the touch, they’re just as good to eat.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for guavasteen via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for guavasteen.

How to store guavasteen

It’s best to eat ripe guavasteen right after getting it. Letting too much time go by can make the fruit not taste as sweet, as well as lead to spoiling. To prevent this, store ripe guavasteen in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to a week.

Underripe guavasteen can be stored with other fruits in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It shouldn’t take more than 2-3 days for the guavasteen to fully ripen.

You can preserve guavasteen for longer if you freeze it. Either scoop out the fleshy interior or peel and chop the fruit and store it in a closed container. It’ll keep for 6-12 months in the freezer.

Alternatively, you could can guavasteen or even turn it into a jam. Follow the same steps you do for other soft fruits, and you’ll have sweet tropical flavors ready to enjoy no matter the time of year.

How to tell if guavasteen is bad

Guavasteen that has gone bad usually turns a dark brown. It becomes too mushy to handle, gains a strong, pungent smell, and can taste sour. Mold can also start growing on the outside or inside of the fruit if the skin was broken.

What can I substitute for guavasteen?

If guavasteen isn’t in season, you could try substituting it for other tropical fruits. Guava is probably the closest match, although it tastes sweeter and is much bigger.

Alternatively, you could swap it out for a medley of pears, bananas, strawberries, and apricots in baking recipes. The flavor won’t be quite the same, but pies and cakes still turn out great.

Start eating more tropical fruits like guavasteen

Guavasteen is a relatively hard-to-find fruit. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a shot. Instead of perusing produce aisles at different stores and perhaps coming home empty-handed, you can leave this task to Instacart shoppers. Order your guavasteen fruits (and whatever other ingredients you need) online and have them delivered in as little as 2 hours.

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