Bangkok Giant White Guavas
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
This item was last sold on : 03/29/26
Description/Taste
Bangkok Giant White guavas are a large variety, averaging 10 to 12 centimeters in diameter, and often grow as broad as a softball. The fruits have a round, pyriform, or ovoid appearance with a curved nature and are topped with 4 to 5 tiny sepals surrounding the apex on one end. The skin is semi-thin, tough, and ranges from matte to glossy, showcasing a distinctly textured, bumpy surface. The skin also bears bright green hues. Underneath the surface, the white flesh may feature a light green ring just below the skin and has a firm, dense, crisp, and crunchy consistency. Bangkok Giant White guavas are not soft like other guava varieties and have a texture closer to an apple. The white flesh also encases many small, hard, brown to tan seeds. These seeds are numerous throughout the flesh and are edible, but some consumers choose to discard them due to their hard nature. The seeds should not be chewed aggressively; instead, they should be swallowed whole. Bangkok Giant White guavas emit a fresh, floral, and musky aroma and are typically sold in markets when they are slightly underripe. The variety is edible in this stage and has a refreshing, mildly sweet, tart, and floral flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Bangkok Giant White guavas are available year-round.
Current Facts
Bangkok Giant White guavas, botanically classified as Psidium guajava, are a specialty variety belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The fruits grow on evergreen trees reaching 1 to 3 meters in height, depending on the climate and growing method, and are valued as a distinct cultivar known for its large size. The name Bangkok Giant White is an English descriptor used for guava varieties sourced initially from Thailand, which are sold as fresh-eating fruits in markets. Bangkok Giant White guava trees are hardy once established and prolific, producing approximately 18 to 31 kilograms of fruit annually. The white-fleshed fruits are favored for their refreshing, crunchy nature and sweet, subtly sour taste. Chefs and home cooks utilize Bangkok Giant White guavas in a wide array of raw or cooked, sweet or savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Bangkok Giant White guavas have not been studied for their nutritional properties. White guavas, in general, are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and contain vitamins A, C, E, and K. These vitamins maintain healthy organs, strengthen the immune system, guard the cells against free radical damage, and aid in faster wound healing. White guavas also provide antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and contain various minerals in different amounts, including potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. These minerals help the body balance fluid levels, produce proteins for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, control daily nerve functions, build red blood cells, and support bone and tooth development.
Applications
Bangkok Giant White guavas have a mild, refreshing, sweet, and subtly tangy taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is traditionally eaten out of hand, and the skin, flesh, and seeds are all edible, though some consumers may choose to peel the skin and spit out the seeds, depending on preference. Bangkok Giant White guavas are valued for their large size and crunchy flesh, often eaten in slices like an apple. Cut fruits can be sprinkled with salt and sugar mixtures as a snack, or sliced and tossed into salads. A popular Thai salad featuring white guavas is som tum, where the fruit is shredded and mixed with green papayas. Bangkok Giant White guavas can be used in any preparation calling for white guavas. The fruits are sometimes chilled before serving, folded into yogurt as a crunchy topping, or poached in syrups as a dessert. Try incorporating Bangkok Giant White guavas into jellies and jams or simmering them into various soups and curries. While less common, guavas are sometimes blended into smoothies, juices, and other drinks or cooked as a filling for pies. Bangkok Giant White guavas pair well with spices like cinnamon, chili powder, ginger, and cumin, fruits like coconut, limes, lemons, and dragon fruit, and herbs like cilantro, mint, and lemongrass. Whole, unopened white guavas will keep for a few days at room temperature and for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator. Once cut, sliced fruits should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
White guavas are a popular street food in Thailand. The fruits are stacked in neat piles, and once purchased, the fruits are sliced fresh by the vendor and placed in a thin plastic bag. Another small bag with a mixture of salt, sugar, chili powder, and other flavorings is also given with the fruits as a dipping blend. Historically, guavas were harvested slightly unripe in Thailand, as ripe fruits attracted animals and pests that would eat the guavas before the growers could harvest. Slightly unripe, green fruits do not attract these visitors, allowing growers to pick the guavas without competition. The crunchy consistency of the green fruits became a favored snack in markets, and dipping blends are used to enhance the fruit’s mild flavoring. These dipping mixtures are called prik glua or prik-kab-klua in Thailand, as “prik” means “chile,” and “glua” means “salt.” White guavas and prik glua are sold year-round in street markets, and the dipping blend is believed to help balance the sweet and sour nuances in the slightly unripe, crunchy fruits for an improved eating experience.
Geography/History
Bangkok Giant White guavas are believed to have been developed from cultivars in Thailand from ancient varieties initially introduced to Asia from the Americas. Guavas, in general, were introduced to Thailand during the reign of King Narai, who ruled from 1656 to 1688 CE. Guavas thrived in Thailand's tropical climate and were spread throughout the country, becoming naturalized in forests, jungles, and alongside villages. White guavas were extensively bred in Thailand to create more palatable varieties, eventually developing cultivars generally labeled as Thai guavas. The exact history of the Bangkok Giant White guava is unknown, but sources hypothesize that the variety was given this name when it was introduced from Thailand to growing regions in the United States and other English-speaking areas worldwide. Today, Bangkok Giant White guavas are sold through specialty markets in the United States and thrive in warm, tropical to subtropical climates.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| Vertex - Merryfield Row | San Diego CA | 619-405-8950 |
| The Seabird Resort | Oceanside CA | 442-222-9505 |
| Corbeaux Wine & Tea House | Temecula CA | 909-567-6109 |
| Special Order | San Diego CA | 619-876-4070 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
Bangkok Giant White Guavas for sale around the world shared on the Specialty Produce App
