Goiabada (; from ''goiaba'',

guava Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava ''Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, t ...

] is a Jam, conserve made of red

s and

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or do ...

, commonly found throughout the Portuguese-speaking countries of the world. It dates back to the colonial times of

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, where guavas were used as a substitute for the

quince The quince (; ''Cydonia oblonga'') is the sole member of the genus ''Cydonia'' in the Malinae subtribe (which also contains apples and pears, among other fruits) of the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that bears hard, aromatic bright ...

s used to make ''marmelada'' (

quince cheese Quince cheese (also known as quince paste) is a sweet, thick jelly made of the pulp of the quince fruit. It is a common confection in several countries. Traditionally from Mediterranean. In Iberian Peninsula, it is called ''ate'' or ''dulce d ...

). An abundance of sugar and slave labour were crucial for its confection, in large cauldrons cooking over a slow fire. In rural areas of Brazil, it is still commonly made at home for family use or by home industry outlets (traditional recipes) or as

processed food Convenience food, also called tertiary processed food, is food that is commercially prepared (often through processing) to optimise ease of consumption. Such food is usually ready to eat without further preparation. It may also be easily p ...

. It is a deep slightly bluish red colour, sometimes a very dark hue of red. Very similar to ''goiabada'' is the closely related Colombian ''

bocadillo The bocadillo or bocata, in Spain, is a sandwich made with Spanish bread, usually a baguette or similar type of bread, cut lengthwise. Traditionally seen as a humble food, its low cost has allowed it to evolve over time into an iconic piece of ...

'', also made from guava but with more sugar. It is known as guava paste or guava cheese throughout the English-speaking Americas, specially the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean ...

, and ''dulce de guayaba'', ''barra de guayaba'', ''pasta de guayaba'', ''bocadillo'' or ''guayabate'' in Spanish-speaking Americas. It is commercially available, most often packaged in flat metal cans, or as long rectangular blocks in chipboard boxes. It is called ''perad'' in Goa (India), a former Portuguese colony. In Brazil, ''goiabada'' is often eaten with Minas cheese. This combination is referred to as "

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

." It is also popular spread on toast at breakfast. In

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

, it is used as the filling of the popular ''bolo de rosas'' (rose cake) in which a layer of pastry is covered with ''goiabada'', then rolled and cut into pieces that resemble roses. This same cake is called ''rocambole'' in Brazil, and also uses a layer of pastry covered with ''goiabada'', then rolled and served, as a

Swiss roll A Swiss roll, jelly roll (United States), roll cake, cream roll, roulade or Swiss log is a type of rolled sponge cake filled with whipped cream, jam, or icing. The origins of the term are unclear; in spite of the name "Swiss roll", the cake i ...

. Another popular dessert is the bolo de rolo. ''Goiabada'' may come in many widely different possible textures, ranging from a thin paste, meant to be eaten with a spoon or spread on bread or cakes, to very hard slabs that can be sliced with a knife only with some difficulty. Canned varieties are usually half-way between those extremes, being easily cut into soft slices. The many different kinds of ''goiabada'' depend on the type of guava, the proportion of sugar, the amount of water, and the cooking process. Goiabada.jpg, Goiabada

References

* ''Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging.'' Muhammad Siddiq. ed. John Wiley & Sons, Aug 7, 2012 Brazilian desserts Portuguese desserts Food paste Guava dishes

See also

References