Dried Pearl Guava

Pearl Guava is a white-fleshed, pear-shaped tropical fruit. It’s commonly eaten in Taiwan, but I’ve never tasted anything quite like this dried version from Yun Hai. They work with independent Taiwanese farmers who tend every tree with great care, including covering individual fruits in bags to prevent pests.

To make the dried guava, the fruit is specially harvested in the fall when it’s firmer and crunchier to ensure the ideal final texture. The fruit is cut into thick strips and dried at low temperatures, which results in pieces that are chewy without being leathery.

As soon as you open the bag, the floral aroma wafts out. And the flavor! It has a warm spiced quality that makes me think of clove, but there’s no spice added—that’s just the natural flavor of the fruit. Pair it with tea or serve it on a cheese board and revel in this special taste of Taiwan.