Guava (from Spanish; Goiaba in Portuguese)
is a tropical round to pear-shaped fruit produced by the guava
tree (Psidium guajava), of the family Myrtaceae. The tree is
actually a small, white-flowered, oblong-leaved, glabrous shrub
that originated in the warm regions of the Americas.
Guava is cultivated in many tropical countries because of its
edible fruits. The fresh fruit is round, about 5 – 7 cm in
diameter; some cultivated varieties may be twice as big. It has
a thin delicate rind (pale green to yellow at maturity), a
creamy white or orange-salmon flesh with many small hard seeds,
and a strong characteristic aroma which people either love or
hate. It is rich in vitamins A, B, and C. It is commonly eaten
whole, like an apple, or sliced and served with sugar and cream
as a dessert. In Asia, raw guava is often dipped in salt or
prune powder. Boiled guava is also extensively used to make
candies, preserves, jellies, jams, marmalades (goiabada), and
juices.
The plant is frost-sensitive. In several tropical regions it has
even become a pest
