Guava Paste

Guava Paste is a very thick, purée of Guava Fruit. It is stiff and dense, almost like a fruit leather, but still soft and easily cut with a knife. It is sold in small and large blocks, or canned, but not in jars. The small blocks are about six inches long, an inch wide, and an inch thick (15cm x 2.5cm x 2.5cm.) The paste is usually orangey-brown in colour.

Depending on the brand you purchase, some will have added ingredients such as pectin, others are just guava and sugar. Some makes will have a strip of guava jelly in the middle.

It tastes like a sweet jam, but is very thick and not spreadable. It is served in slices that are quite thin, as each slice packs a lot of flavour and sweetness.

Guava Paste is made in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It is used in the Brazilian recipe called “Romeu e Julieta.”

Cooking Tips

It is very good on top of cheese, cream cheese or cheddar: in Cuba, cheese and guava paste is a traditional way to end dinner.

It can be also be used as a filling in baked goods.

Storage Hints

When opened, wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate, store for up to 3 months. Discard if it smells funny, or gets green or brown colouring on the edges.