Filipino Psidium Guava

In the Philippines there is a fruit known as the Psidium guajava (guava). It is a well known tropical tree that grows in the tropics. Locals use it as a medicine. It is found to be effective in diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis, hypertension, and diabetes. Among other medical claims the leaves are also considered medicinal and make a great tea.

As a general guide the Psidium guava is a tree with dark leaves and white flowers. Found in the Philippines the flowers will eventually turn into large fruits with thick skin. You can eat the skin which is said to be tender and succulent. From the fruit comes guava juice and guava jam. It is used in sinigang soup a delicacy of the Philippines. Like most fruit the Psidium Guava has many uses.

Guava leaf can calm your nerves and quiet your mind, making it easier to slip into slumber. Contains high levels of Vitamin C and iron. Guava leaves are full of antioxidants and Nutritional doses of the essential minerals calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Something to bear in mind to keep you healthy when traveling the Philippines.

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The Tree of the Psidium Guava

The Psidium Guava is a bush tree with dark, green leaves and white flowers. The flowers will eventually turn into big fruits. The fruit has thicker skin than other varieties That is why it is most favored because the skin is tender to eat and succulent.

The seeds are good to eat too. It does not have that many seeds inside the fruit. Some varieties of guava have tons of seeds inside that is why it is the favorite food of the birds.

Other varieties of guava have different colors, some have yellow rind and pink inside. Some have red skin and aromatic. Guava tree needs full sun and because it is tropical it will not withstand a frost. 

Psidium Guava Fruit

Use the ripe fruit in almost everything such as guava juice, guava jelly or jam, and candies.

It is desired especially to flavor fish “sinigang”. A soup made from fish (milkfish is the most popular) and mix with vegetables and hot peppers.

The almost ripe guavas are for eating pleasure. Dip slices in salt and you do have a wonderful treat.

The Psidium Tea Leaves

The leaves are used medicinally in the Philippines. The leaves are prepared as tisanes if you have diarrhea. The leaves are also boiled in water and used as antibacterial in treating open wounds.

Drinking guava leaf tea after meals can help suppress blood sugar spikes, and has not shown to interact negatively with medications people with diabetes may be taking.

Several studies of various guava leaf extracts, including guava leaf tea, have demonstrated anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Eating the Psidium Leaves

Eating guava leaves regularly can help improve your immune system and even ease symptoms of diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.

In addition, it’s easy to incorporate into the diet on a daily basis. Guava leaf tea is a great addition to your herbal regimen. It is especially useful if you suffer from menstrual pain, diabetes or as an anti-diarrhea support.

Also, you might want to enjoy a cup daily to boost your immune system and protect yourself against common colds and flu. The leaf extract is also a good source of beneficial compounds for healthy skin.

Guava fruit without peel is more effective in lowering blood sugar as well as serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLc. It increases HDLc levels also.

Warning: If you are not well seek medical advice. A doctor is better qualified to determine your illness.

Eat the Psidium Fruit

Guava must be eaten with food and not on an empty stomach. This goes for bananas too. This is because, if your body needs to reap the benefits of these fruits, there must be some food in your stomach for it to digest and mix along with.

Psidium guajava fruit extract is a rich source of:

• bioactive antioxidants, including
• gallic acid,
• catechin,
• chlorogenic acid,
• rutin,
• quercetin,
• tocopherol,
• beta-carotene and
• lycopene.

It is said Guava can help tooth cavity prevention, pain relief, cough, oral ulcers and improve locomotors coordination and liver damage inflammation.

Three Recipes

Guava Juice

1. Guava Juice: 4 cups Psidium guava, peeled and seeded 1 cup water 1/4 cup sugar (or to taste) 1/4 cup lime juice (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the guava until smooth.
2. Strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining seeds.
3. In a pot, combine the guava puree, water, sugar, and lime juice (if using).
4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and let it cool.
6. Serve chilled and enjoy.

Guava Jam

1. Guava Jam: 4 cups Psidium guava, peeled, seeded and mashed 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup lime juice 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tsp. powdered pectin

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, combine the guava, sugar, lime juice, and lemon juice.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Reduce heat and add the powdered pectin and continue to stir.
4. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the mixture thickens.
5. Remove from heat and let it cool.
6. Serve as a spread or use as a filling for pastries.

Guava Cake

1. Guava Cake 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk 1 cup Psidium guava, peeled, seeded and mashed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well.
5. Stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Add the flour mixture and milk alternately to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
7. Fold in the mashed guava.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Let it cool before serving and enjoy

Growing a Psidium Tree

Guava tree needs full sun and because it is tropical it will not withstand a frost. You can grow the dwarf variety in a pot so it is easy to move to the green house.

During the growing season, it needs constant watering. The soil should be amended with organic matter such as compost and a balance fertilizer every three months.

When flowers appear, a bloom-plus fertilizer is a good thing to add in the care regimen to ensure good yield.

Making Use of Psidium

Psidium Guava is thought to be native to tropical and subtropical America. Bought to the Philippines by helpful Spanish. The fruit is either rounded, egg-shaped or pear-shaped and turns from green to yellowish in colour as it matures. Guava is an excellent source of C vitamin.

Psidium guajava is grown for its fruit which upon ripening, the guava becomes soft and juicy. It may be eaten fresh. Locals make a juice or nectar containing the fruit pulp. Preserves, jam, jelly, and paste can be found in stores.

You will see its wood in use around farms and properties. Its wood can be used to make poles, fence posts and tool handles, in handicrafts and for charcoal and firewood.

Psidium Appearance

The older stems are covered in a smooth, light reddish-brown, bark that peels off in flakes. The newly revealed bark is somewhat greenish-brown in colour. Younger stems are greenish in colour, hairy, and somewhat four-angled.

The leaf blades are somewhat oval in shape with rounded or pointed tips and rounded bases. They have hairy undersides, especially when young. They are generally dull green in colour. Each leaf has a prominent central vein and 10-20 pairs of side veins that are also relatively obvious.

The flowers are usually borne singly in the upper leaf forks. These flowers are about 25 mm across and are borne on a hairy stalks. Each flower has four or five green leaves that encase the developing flower. They are fused together at the base. Displaying four or five white . They also have large numbers of small white male reproductive parts of a flower.

Conclusion

The fruit is either rounded, egg-shaped or pear-shaped. It will turn from green to yellowish in colour as it matures. These berries have a juicy pink, white or yellowish coloured pulp containing numerous seeds. The seeds are yellowish in colour and kidney-shaped. Planted and wild trees can be found and used for fruit.

The Psidium Guava is one healthy fruit. Used by the locals for medicinal as well as food. It is also known as lemon guava, mpera (Kiswahili), mubera (Kikuyu), and mupeera (Luganda). The Psidium Guava species has been cultivated for a long time. Its exact native range is somewhat obscure. The seeds are mainly dispersed by fruit-eating birds and bats, as well as other animals and people.

Guava is an excellent source of C vitamin. You will find it by the road side stores where you can eat fresh, or have it made into a juice or nectar containing the fruit pulp. A refreshing medicinal treat with additional benefits. That is why locals make use of it.