How to eat feijoa
How to eat feijoa, what it tastes like, and how to tell when it's ripe — a practical guide with Feijoa's flavour, prep, and storage.
How do you eat feijoa? Halve and scoop with a teaspoon; the aroma reads as pineapple-guava-mint.
What does it taste like? Perfumed and zingy — pineapple and strawberry-guava over a faint minty, slightly gritty jelly center.
How to prepare & eat feijoa
Halve and scoop with a teaspoon; the aroma reads as pineapple-guava-mint.
Ways to eat & use it
- Halved and scooped with a teaspoon — the national autumn gesture of New Zealand
- Feijoa crumbles, cakes, and muffins; paste and chutney
- Blended into smoothies and NZ feijoa wine and cider
- The cucumber-crisp petals tossed into salads
What does feijoa taste like?
Perfumed and zingy — pineapple and strawberry-guava over a faint minty, slightly gritty jelly center. The aroma is loud, almost soapy-floral to newcomers, addictive to converts.
Sensory & practical profile
Taste fingerprint
- Sweetness
- Tartness
- Aroma
- Juiciness
- Firmness
Approximate, at peak ripeness · 0–5
- Ripe when
- It ripens by falling — gather fragrant, slightly giving fruit; no colour change signals ripeness, so trust nose and touch.
- How to eat
- Halve and scoop with a teaspoon; the aroma reads as pineapple-guava-mint.
- Typical price
- Everyday
New Zealand binges on it for six autumn weeks — free buckets appear on fences — because the fruit can't travel.
How to tell when feijoa is ripe
It ripens by falling — gather fragrant, slightly giving fruit; no colour change signals ripeness, so trust nose and touch.
How to store feijoa
A few days at room temperature, a week refrigerated — then the interior browns. Kiwis (the people) freeze scooped pulp by the bag for smoothies and baking through winter.
Feijoa: frequently asked questions
What does feijoa taste like?
Perfumed and zingy — pineapple and strawberry-guava over a faint minty, slightly gritty jelly center. The aroma is loud, almost soapy-floral to newcomers, addictive to converts.
When is feijoa in season?
Feijoa is mainly a Autumn fruit, with exact months depending on the growing region and hemisphere.
How do you eat feijoa?
Halve and scoop with a teaspoon; the aroma reads as pineapple-guava-mint.
How do you know when feijoa is ripe?
It ripens by falling — gather fragrant, slightly giving fruit; no colour change signals ripeness, so trust nose and touch.
Is feijoa good for you?
Feijoa is a nutritious everyday fruit, best enjoyed as part of a varied diet. It is high in fibre (about 6.4 g per 100 g), which supports healthy digestion and regularity and helps you feel full. It is a good source of vitamin C (about 32.9 mg per 100 g), supporting immune function and helping the body absorb iron from plant foods.
How much feijoa should you eat?
A typical fruit serving is roughly a handful, one medium fruit, or about 80 g, and two or more varied fruit servings a day is a sensible everyday pattern. If you are not used to high-fibre foods, build up gradually and drink plenty of water to avoid bloating or wind.