guiaba

Guiaba is a term that appears in some Portuguese-language sources as a historical or regional variant spelling for the fruit commonly known as guava. In contemporary usage the fruit is typically referred to as goiaba or guaiaba, with guiaba appearing mainly in older texts or in particular dialects. The word and its variants trace back to Tupi-Guarani roots that describe the guava fruit.

The guava tree, Psidium guajava, is a broadleaf evergreen native to tropical Americas and widely cultivated in warm, frost-free regions around the world. The tree usually grows 3 to 10 meters tall and bears round to oblong fruits that range from about 4 to 12 centimeters in diameter. The skin can be green, yellow, or reddish when ripe, and the flesh ranges from white to pink with a fragrant, sweet-tunky aroma. Goilba/guava fruits are eaten fresh and are also processed into juices, jams, jellies, and desserts. They are valued for vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Etymology and usage notes: Guiaba is one of several historical spellings linked to the same fruit, with goiaba and guaiaba being common modern forms. The exact spelling varies by region and period, but all refer to the same plant and its fruit. In some contexts, similar-sounding names like Guaíba refer to distinct places or features and should not be conflated with the fruit term.