Red Diamond Guavas
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Red Diamond guavas vary in size, depending on the season and growing conditions, but are generally a larger varietal in Taiwan, averaging 8 to 13 centimeters in diameter. The fruits range from 300 to 600 grams in weight, sometimes growing as large as 1,000 grams, and are typically round, oblate, to slightly pyriform in shape with a broad, curved base. The skin ripens from green to lighter shades of yellow-green and the surface is taut, textured, and glossy. In Taiwan, guavas with a bumpier consistency are considered sweeter, more nutritious, and overall, of better quality than smoother-skinned guavas. Underneath the surface, the flesh exhibits variegated shades of red and pink, and the color is darkest in the center, becoming lighter towards the surface. There is also a characteristic pale ring just below the skin. The flesh is firm, dense, thick, aqueous, crisp, and crunchy, encasing tiny light brown to yellow hard seeds. These seeds are edible and can be swallowed but they are not recommended to be chewed. Some Red Diamond guavas may also be almost seedless, containing only a few seeds in the flesh. Red Diamond guavas should feel heavy for their size when ripe and will have a light, floral aroma. Mature fruits are sweet, varying from 8 to 12 degrees Brix, a measurement of sugar, and have a fragrant, fresh, floral, musky, and subtly tangy taste.
Seasons/Availability
Red Diamond guavas are available year-round, with a peak season in the winter. In Taiwan, guavas harvested from June to September will be the largest. Guavas with the best flavor are gathered between October and February.
Current Facts
Red Diamond guavas, botanically classified as Psidium guajava, are a Taiwanese variety belonging to the Myrtaceae family. There are several varieties of red-fleshed guavas commercially produced in Taiwan, and these fruits are often generally labeled and interchangeably sold by vendors as Red-Heart guavas, Red Flesh guavas, Rainbow guavas, Watermelon guavas, and simply as Red guavas. Red Diamond guavas were developed as an improved, red-fleshed variety in the late 20th century and are a specialty fruit promoted for their large size, crisp flesh, and sweet taste. The variety is only grown in limited quantities due to its challenging cultivation requirements and is sold as a premium fruit in markets across Taiwan. Red Diamond guavas retain their crunchy consistency, even when ripe, and are similar in texture to the commercially dominant, white-fleshed cultivar, the Pearl guava. In local markets, Red Diamond guavas are difficult to distinguish from Pearl guavas as they both display pale green-yellow, bumpy skin. Vendors frequently slice the fruit open to showcase the Red Diamond’s pigmented flesh to differentiate it from Pearl guavas. Red Diamond guavas have a sweet, floral, and subtly tangy taste suited for a wide array of fresh and cooked preparations.
Nutritional Value
Red Diamond guavas have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. The colored flesh is notable for its lycopene and carotenoid content, natural pigments that have antioxidant-like properties to protect the cells against damage caused by free radicals. These pigments also help to lower inflammation in the body. Red-fleshed guavas, in general, are a source of calcium to protect bones and teeth, phosphorus to produce genetic material such as DNA and RNA, magnesium to control nerve functions, and fiber to regulate the digestive tract. Guavas also provide vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, potassium to balance fluid levels, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and other nutrients, including folate, niacin, riboflavin, copper, manganese, and zinc.
Applications
Red Diamond guavas have a sweet and floral taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. In Taiwan, Red Diamond guavas are traditionally eaten out of hand and the skin, flesh, and seeds are edible. It is important to note that while the seeds can be consumed, they should be lightly swallowed and not extensively chewed as they are very hard and could crack or break teeth. Red Diamond guavas are enjoyed as a raw snack as they retain a crisp consistency, even when mature. Some vendors also sell the fruits with packets of chili powder, salt, or plum powder for enhanced flavoring. In addition to eating as a snack, Red Diamond guavas can be chopped into salads, shredded into slaws, or sliced and served as a topping over various breakfast dishes. The other most well-known use for guavas in Taiwan is juicing. The flesh is blended and incorporated into smoothies or mixed with sweeteners and served over ice as a refreshing beverage. Red Diamond guavas are popularly simmered into jams and jellies, giving the spread a pink-pigmented nature, or they can be cooked into fillings for desserts such as cakes, mousses, puddings, and tarts. Beyond fresh uses, dried Red Diamond guavas are a common souvenir in Taiwan. The dried fruit strips retain a red-pink hue and can be stored for extended periods, allowing tourists to bring the fruits back home as a gift for family and friends. Red Diamond guavas pair well with fruits such as pineapple, strawberries, lychees, honeydew, and passionfruit, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whole, ripe Red Diamond guavas will keep for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator. The fruits should only be washed just before use and consumed quickly after ripening for the best quality and flavor.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Guavas have remained one of the most affordable fruits in fresh markets throughout Taiwan. Local lore among Taiwanese guava growers attributes this phenomenon to guavas being a fruit considered taboo to give as gifts and religious offerings. Taoist and Buddhist practices often involve giving food as an offering to the gods. Specific fruits are placed on altars to invite the gods to give blessings, and each fruit may have a different request or meaning when offered. After the fruit is given as an offering, it is consumed. Fruits with seeds that cannot be digested, such as guavas, custard apples, and tomatoes, are traditionally prohibited as offerings due to ancient beliefs. Historically, the seeds from these fruits are expelled and found in excrement, and some communities in Taiwan viewed the expelling of the seeds to be offensive to the gods. These seeds can also sprout from the excrement, further establishing the fruits as unclean fruit for worship. As guavas have continually been improved and bred to have less seeds, some communities are seeking to change this belief and use seedless or improved guava varieties, such as Red Diamond guavas, for altar fruits, but overall, the general census among growers is that the fruits are viewed as an everyday culinary fruit versus a special occasion, gift, or religious offering.
Geography/History
Red Diamond guavas are native to Taiwan and were developed from selective breeding of other red-fleshed varieties. Guavas, in general, were first introduced to Taiwan several hundred years ago and originally came from the Americas. Over time, varieties from Asia, Southeast Asia, and the United States were carried and planted on the island in the early 20th century. It is said the first red-fleshed cultivars were sown in Taiwan as early as the 1950s, and these varieties were localized to home gardens. As guava production expanded and increased, especially with the introduction of crispier varieties such as Thai guavas in the 1960s and 1970s, Taiwanese growers began breeding improved cultivars to have a denser consistency. Much of the history of Red Diamond guavas is unknown, but it was thought to have been developed from other red-fleshed guava varieties sometime in the late 20th century in Southern Taiwan. After their release, Red Diamond guavas remained localized to Taiwan and are grown in small quantities as a specialty red-fleshed cultivar. Today, Red Diamond guavas are cultivated in the counties of Changhua, Kaohsiung, and Taichung in Taiwan. When in season, Red Diamond guavas are sold through select markets, directly from growers in online sales, or as a specialty item in retailers throughout Taiwan. The Red Diamond guavas featured in the photograph above were sourced through the farm of Li Li Kuei in Southern Taiwan.
