I would like to ask you a riddle; I received some fruit from a friend here in California but I couldn’t tell immediately what they were (I haven’t had these for the longest time!). I finally figured out after I cut them up and tasted them.
Do send me your answer(s) by posting in the “Comments” section. The first person who gets it right will win (in the voice of Dr. Evil in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery) one million dollars!!! my respect.
Hint: They are widely available in Asia.
Congratulations to Ho Jiak, the first person to solve the riddle. Yes, they are Guavas, or Jambu Batu in Malay language.
Originally from Mexico and South America, Guavas are readily found in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In Malaysia, we usually dip raw Jambu Batu in sour plum powder, which make them very appetizing.
Whenever I go home to Penang, I would order Guava juice at kopitiam instead of having them raw. If I recall correctly, Guavas in Malaysia are much bigger. As you can tell from the pictures here, these are the mini-me variety of California Guavas. In fact, the round one looks more like a green Tangerine to me. Don’t you think?
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Are they Kaffir Lime?
-G
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I think Blogger comments fuction is playing up again.
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If I’m not mistaken, it’s Malaysian green guava or we call it jambu, right?
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want me to bring u some sour plum powder ? *wink*
S
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I think they are guava but they look a bit small.
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Those are Californian guavas..=P
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Congratulations to Ho Jiak, you are the winner of this riddle so you have my new respect now!
Congratulations to S and Suanne too, you guys know your food (I don’t always know!). :P
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I knew it! I used to eat these all the time in Taiwan.
- Chubbypanda
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Clapping hands! You got it right too, Chris and Chubby Panda. :)
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the winner has your respect, good.
r u gonna have more such riddles/contests, but prize must b more than your respect, right guys ? ! ( hehehe )
Anyway wonder if this type of guava can grow here in Malaysia ? If so don’t forget when u come back again, I wanna grow and eat them here all the time ( they do look rounded,crunchy & solid ), & much prettier (n sexy 2 ) than de horrendous looking Bidor ( Perak ) version !
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You’re living in California? Any nice Malaysian food over there? i’m planning to study there.. gonna miss malaysian food a lot! =(
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Toni - how does Bidor Jambu look? Can you take a picture and let me see how horrendous they are?
Princess Shin - Welcome to Rasa Malaysia. Yes, I live in Orange County in Southern California. There is one very good Malaysian restaurant there, and the others are so-so. Good luck with your study plan. :)
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You must take me to the one good Malaysian restaurant. Elmo too.
- Chubbypanda
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Oh? My university is in Aliso Viejo in California.. How’s tat place?
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will do next x I m there !
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Mordith,
Deal! Let’s go to Belacan Grill - the best Malaysian restaurant in SoCal. :)
Princess Shin - Aliso Viejo is not far from where I am. There is a Malaysian restaurant around here, but it’s not very good.
http://www.rasamalaysia.com/2006/08/tropika-malaysian-restaurant-tustin.html#links
The good one is Belacan Grill, but in Los Angeles, but it’s definitely worth the drive. When you get here, you can contact me. ;)
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Toni,
Cool, thanks. I wanted to see how the Malaysian variety compared to the ones here. :)
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Weird. Why did blogger beta’s comments thingy displaying my email address and not my handle for that last post?
- Chubbypanda
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I’ll try Belacan Grill before the year’s end. What dishes shouldn’t I miss?
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Chubbypanda,
Blogger beta is very buggy. My Previous Posts stop changing dynamically. :(
Food Marathon, for Belacan Grill, here are my favorites:
1) Assam Pedas Prawns
2) Kangkong Belacan
3) Nasi Lemak
4) Char Kway Teow
5) Curry Chicken
6) Beef Rendang
And don’t forget to ask them for the sambal belacan. They are the best when goes with the above dishes. :)
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i used to climb this guava tree at my aunt’s lawn. the size of the guava is about those in your pic. the centre of the guava is pinkish one. awwww man that was doggone years ago haha
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hi!!!!
read ur review about belacan gril. i visited dat restaurant during previoustip… if i’m not mistaken during their openings or maybe there was some functio going on whre all malaysians thing like in in LA were invited. sorry 2 say, but their food taste nuthing like malaysian food! i was so disappointed. u mentioned that there are other malaysian restaurant… can u pls tel me where so i can vivit them on my coming trips. thnx!
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There’s this Rasa malaysia in London . U can try that . It’s the closest to Malaysian food but the quality is ain’t that Good . There’s another one at somewhere i forgot but i heard it’s closing down . It sells the best Malay Food outside Singapore or Malaysia ! Very tasty . Taste quite similar too .
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