A guava a day keeps the doctor away…Swap those pricey apples and grapes for the guavas…why buy the pricey imported apples and grapes to sit fancy on your dining table while the guavas growing locally in thickets and bushes are left to rot away?

Guava: The Ultimate Super Fruit You’re Overlooking!

I think we should sue the people who created in us that imported apples/grapes are superior to our local guavas.

Did you know guava packs a punch with four times more vitamin C than an orange, thrice the protein, and quadruple the fiber of a pineapple? Plus, it outdoes a banana in potassium content! .

A little down the memory lane tease on village life and guava if you can relate you are well in if not check your youngins in this age and era….

Growing up in the village was a juicy adventure, where nearly every home and schoolyard boasted a mango, loquat, or guava tree. We went from season to season with plenty of fruits…not a single month skipped without a fruit in its season,we even knew how the full fruit season cycle dipped in and out.

These trees were more than just shade; they were our playgrounds and kept us fit and out of trouble. We learned the art of patience, waiting for the perfect ripeness before the birds got to the sweet flesh. We’d pluck the fruit straight off the tree and bite in without a second thought. Sometimes, we’d spice things up by dipping mango and guava slices into a mix of salt and red chili powder—a bold blend of sweet, tart, salty, and fiery that left us confused, giddy, and utterly satisfied.

Kenyans, we’re usually ahead of the curve, but we’ve completely missed this one.

I have not yet seen guavas in chain stores or noticed any value-added products from them, except for an Afia guava juice, which surprised me. Many of you might not be aware, but if pineapple is called the king of fruits, then guava is the queen, thanks to its remarkable medicinal properties.

Today, I’ll share the hidden potential of this overlooked African fruit. Guavas are often considered bird food and seen as wild fruits growing untended in the bush across many parts of Kenya, including Kitui, Kisii, Taita Taveta, and Murang’a.

You can enjoy every part of a guava, from its skin and juicy flesh to its seeds. Just a heads-up: those seeds love to play hide-and-seek in your teeth – trust me, I’ve been there!

Guava; Kamba: Kivela; Kikuyu: Mubera; Luhya: Lipera; Luo: Mapera; Somali: Zeitun; Swahili: Mpera is a small evergreen plant that offers fruits of different colours depending on the variety: the skin can be greenish but also yellow or, more rarely, purple; while the flesh, which is most often white, can also be pinkish or purple. The flesh has a buttery texture like pear or melon, while the flavour is aromatic, sweet and exotic with hints of peach with overtones of vanilla and menthol.

Guava fruit value chain is commercially disorganized and standard postharvest handling and storage procedures are not practiced as there is no bulk handling.

The local guava value chain in Kenya remains highly underexploited despite the fruits’ nutritional and economic potential as the fruits are neglected. 10,000 tonnes worth an estimate of $ 1.1 million. This loss is equivalent to approximately 80% of the annual production

Guava farming is a profitable agribusiness that is gaining popularity steadily as the number of consumers increases. They take a short time to mature, with grafted varieties taking about 2 years. The fruits are ready for harvest 4 to 5 months after flowering.

Guava trees can be highly productive with good care, becoming a rewarding agribusiness. A mature tree can yield about 200 to 300 fruits per season. Commercial yield is achieved from the third year if the trees are managed well. That means with the current price of Ksh 10 per fruit, a farmer with 20 trees can pocket about Ksh 20,000 per season.

To earn more money, farmers can go the value addition way as the fruits are used extensively to add value to other products such as jam, toffee make guava powder, guava wine, guava juice, ice cream topping, cheese, and blended RTS beverages.
That means there is a high demand for the fruit locally and in export markets.

Guavas have many benefits, which include:

The fruits contain Vitamin C, which helps boost heart health and the immune system.

It restrains the growth of cancerous cells, preventing oral, breast, and prostate cancers.

They contain vitamin A which helps boost eye vision and health

They contain a high dietary fiber content. Hence, they are ideal for people with diabetes.

They are rich in nutrients that help in enhancing blood regulation in the body.
It is also very rich in vitamin C, especially in the outer skin, and in vitamin A, which we know are two essential nutrients for the body: vitamin C strengthens the immune system, while vitamin A protects against cellular ageing and free radicals.

Guava is also an excellent source of potassium, which is essential for strengthening the muscles of those who practise sports at high levels and for keeping the cardiovascular system efficient. This fruit is one of the richest foods in this element and provides an adequate dose without the risk of temperature sensitivity.

Common facts about guava

Guava is a fruit with medicinal properties and helps in many health problems such as diarrhoea, blood pressure and so on. Here are some facts about guava that you need to know.

Guava usually grows to about 20 feet in height.

Guava produces white flowers.

Guava begins producing fruit for only 2 to 8 years after planting and produced fruits only twice a year.

Guava contains 100 to 500 miniature seeds inside the middle of the fruit. However, there are some varieties that are seedless.

Guava has a rich source of vitamin C, A and E.

Guava leaves are used as a black pigment in the textile industry

Guava plant lives for not less than 40 years.

Article Credit: Hillary Kimani: Follow on Medium || Follow on LinkedIn

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