Fruit for Thought: Feijoa

The feijoa, also known as the pineapple guava and the guavasteen, is an exotic and interesting fruit that is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and is also grown in New Zealand and in the United States, in California and Florida. It is a sweet fruit whose taste is similar to a combination of the following fruits: banana, strawberry, guava, and pineapple.

Feijoa fruits are grown in subtropical regions where the climate is mild, and are produced from the feijoa tree, which is a small evergreen that can grow up to 12 feet in height. The tree is fairly hardy and resistant to many diseases and pests. Additionally, the feijoa tree produces small, inch-long flowers that are white in color with some sprinkling of purple in them. These flowers bloom in the spring. Additionally, petals from the feijoa flower are edible. They are somewhat sweet in taste and are typically used as an addition to salads. Regarding feijoa fruits, the fruits appear on a feijoa tree once the tree has aged approximately three years from initial seeding.

You can recognize a feijoa fruit by its blue/green skin that varies in texture from smooth to coarse. Additionally, feijoas are oval in shape and are approximately one inch to 3 1/2 inches in length. Although you should not eat the skin of a feijoa fruit raw, you can use it as an ingredient in preserves. When you cut into a feijoa, you will see thick, juicy flesh that is either light yellow or white in color. Additionally, approximately thirty seeds are present within the flesh. These seeds are very small and can be eaten along with the flesh. The feijoa fruit is also known for its fragrant and long-lasting aroma.