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Guava

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Guavas are tasty tropical fruits that grow on small trees.

Guava ID
Guava ID

These trees belong to the myrtle family. Most people know the apple guava, which is called Psidium guajava. This fruit is actually a berry. A berry is a fruit that has many seeds inside. Guavas are very important to people around the world. They are used for food, drinks, and even medicines.

Guava pink fruit
Guava pink fruit

Growing a guava tree follows a clear path. You can grow them from seeds in the ground. If you do this, the tree can bear fruit in just two years. These trees are quite strong and can live for forty years. Some people use a special way to grow them called air layering. A person makes a small cut on a healthy branch. They add a rooting hormone to help new roots grow. Then, they wrap the branch in moist moss and plastic. After a few weeks, the new roots appear. You can then cut the branch off to make a new plant.

People have enjoyed guavas for a very long time. Archaeologists found evidence of guava farming in Peru from 2500 BC. The name "guava" comes from the Taíno language. This was a language used by the Arawak people. The name traveled through Spanish to many other languages. Today, guavas grow in many warm places. They are grown in parts of Africa and Oceania. They also grow in the United States in Florida and Hawaii.

There are many interesting facts about how guavas grow. In 2022, the world produced 59 million tonnes of guavas. India is the leader in growing them. India produced 44% of the total amount that year. Other big producers include Indonesia and China. The fruit can look many different ways. The skin might be green, yellow, or maroon. The inside pulp can be white or deep pink. The fruit has a strong smell like lemon rind.

White-cheeked Barbet Guava DSC8751
White-cheeked Barbet Guava DSC8751

Guavas connect to many parts of daily life. Many animals, like birds, love to eat them. When birds eat the fruit, they spread the seeds in their droppings. This helps new trees grow in new places. People use guavas in many yummy ways. You can find them in juices, candies, and jams. In Mexico, people make a drink called agua fresca. In the Philippines, they use guava to cook sinigang. Some people even use the wood for smoking meat during barbecues.

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File:Guava pink fruit.jpg
Guava pink fruit.jpg
File:Guava ID.jpg
Guava ID.jpg
File:Guava_fruit_tree.jpg
Guava_fruit_tree.jpg
File:White-cheeked Barbet Guava DSC8751.jpg
White-cheeked Barbet Guava DSC8751.jpg
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