Guava, an all-time favourite sweet fruit, packs flavour and benefits in equal measure. The fruit nurtures its unique essence in the warmth of India, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and Central America. The delight of its fresh zest, juice, or its flavor-packed paste can shake up even the most ordinary recipes around the year.

Looking to incorporate more guava in your diet? Here are some stellar recipes turning the tropical treat into bright cocktails, potent barbeque sauces, tempting bread puddings, and irresistible guava quesitos.

Bar specialist Evie Negri-Albert created a cocktail for a large gathering, utilizing the brilliance of guava juice, lime, bitter Aperol, nutty orgeat, along with blanco tequila. A complementing blend certainly worth trying.

Brandon Ivan Peña's classic Puerto Rican delight involves stuffing puff pastries with cream cheese and sweet guava paste. The result is a fusion of soft boastful sweetness enveloped in crisp layers.

Paola Briseño González adds her twist to Ponche Navideño, a traditional warm cocktail enjoyed in Mexico during the Christmas season. She uses refreshing guava, apples, hibiscus, and mint to create a perfectly balanced vermouth cocktail.

In the Caribbean, Chef Nelson German uses potent tropical fruits like guava, passion fruit, and pineapple, unlocking a hint of fruitiness and sweetness in the barbecue dishes at his Oakland, California’s Alamar Kitchen & Bar.

Legendary pastry chef Paola Velez hails the combination of guava and cheese as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly. Her budin de pan recipe involves a rich custard made from surplus evaporated milk, another delicious way to showcase guava’s versatility.

Paola also fills puff pastry squares with guava paste and cream cheese. The result is a crispy yet creamy turnover exuding sweet and tangy flavors.

Guava's versatility doesn't stop at pastries. Raichlen’s technique of applying a spice rub consisting of sugar, dry mustard, Chinese five-spice powder, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves, onto baby back ribs is then glammed up by a sticky barbecue sauce made from guava paste and rum. The ribs are finished with a decadent glaze, made of sweet guava.

Lastly, a guava glaze perfectly complements cilantro-jalapeño salsa in Ruth Van Waerebeek-Gonzalez's pork tenderloin recipe, resulting in a well-rounded, flavorful dish.