Edible Perfume- that is how I would describe the experience of consuming these edible flowers.
This South American native large shrub or small tree produces a temperate guava-like fruit, grey-green foliage and edible flowers.
There is so much about the Pineapple Guava (aka. Feijoa, Guavasteen; Feijoa sellowiana) plant to love—first, it can grow in temperate and subtropical environments, and is becoming a popular ornamental that also produces fruit!
It is drought tolerant, tidy, evergreen and tolerant to clipping, so it is popular as a landscape ornamental.
However, few people realize how wonderful are its flower and fruits. The flowers resemble red “puffs” with their many stamens and unusual powdery-white fleshy petals.
The petals are the main flower parts that are consumed, and they are sweet and delicious with a light aromatic flavor.
The fruits that follow are delicious, about the size of a small egg, green on the outside with cream-colored pulp similar in texture and flavor to guava, but with more of a tart pineapple flavor and a perfumed aroma.
As opposed to true Guavas, the Pineapple Guava plant needs to receive some winter chill to produce fruit.
The fruits are good sources of Vitamin C, pantothenic acid, potassium, fiber and are very high in health-promoting antioxidant flavonoids.
The Pineapple Guava are wonderful consumed raw but can also be used in baked goods, or beverages. Efforts are ongoing to expand marketability and utilization of the fruits.
Due to the interesting antioxidant flavonoids and unique aroma of the Pineapple Guava, there have been some studies into its health-promoting activities.
The peels were recently investigated and found to have a pectin composition of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose, and to exhibit antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities.
The Pineapple Guava leaf was found to be a source of anti-AChE and antityrosinase bioactives.
Molecular docking studies on the essential oils from the leaves and stems indicated potential for their use in antiaging formulations and Alzheimer’s disease.
Extracts of the fruit and leaves containing polyphenols were found to be potent anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents.
For example, in a recent study, Pineapple Guava fruit extracts were found to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), possibly helpful for the complications of diabetes and aging.
Through scientific investigation, Pineapple Guava has been found to exhibit various pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-biofilm, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and inhibition of AGEs.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.