Chilean guava

What it is

Wild berries measure about 0.9–1.3 cm (⅜–½ in) across. Their colors include pink, pale yellow and red. On the shrub, the fruit follows tiny, bell-shaped white or pale-pink flowers. The leaves are small and dark green, and the bush keeps them through winter.

Where it comes from

Chilean guava grows naturally in Chile and neighboring Argentina. In Chile it grows in open ground, at the edges of woodland and among other shrubs. Rural pickers gather the berries and carry them to towns, selling them to households or through traders.

How it's eaten where it grows

In Frutillar and Puerto Varas, kuchen de murtas belongs to the German-influenced baking of southern Chile. One home version keeps the berries whole in a vanilla syrup thickened with cornstarch, over a tart base brushed with murta jam and a little rum. It is served at once, Chilean tea time, or as dessert.

Murta con membrillo pairs the small berries with quince. The quince cooks until tender before the murta goes into the pan, making a popular Chilean pudding.

How it's grown

Chilean guava grows as an upright evergreen shrub, keeping its leathery leaves through winter. It grows in sun or partial shade and moist soil that drains well. It can also grow in a container on a patio. Picking is selective because the berries ripen at different times, even on the same shrub.

When and where you'll find it

In Chile, gathering usually starts in February or March and continues through May, beginning earlier toward the north. Fresh berries follow the rural-to-town trade. Jam is another way to meet the fruit: in Chile, Maqueo murta jam is sold in small 170 g jars.