All over the world, using native ingredients to concoct alcoholic beverages has been a popular pastime through the ages. Guavaberry liqueur is one of the most unique examples of this universal endeavor. Made in a number of places in the Caribbean, the concoction is usually associated with St. Maarten, where it's considered the national drink.
The Plant
While its name leads one to believe it's some type of guava, the guavaberry is a completely different plant. It's actually a closer relative to clove and eucalyptus. Guavaberry trees grow wild in the Caribbean islands and a few areas of South and Central America. The fruits, sometimes called rumberries, have also been introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Bermuda, and the Philippines.
Guavaberry trees favor rugged, formidable land, with the berries growing high up. This makes collecting the fruit difficult. High winds and insects can lessen the amount of fruit the trees produce; in fact, the trees are so susceptible that some years they don't yield any berries at all. The berries themselves ripen to either yellow-orange or dark red verging on black, and are about half the size of cherries. On St. Maarten, the trees bear fruit at different times from year to year, but only when conditions are just right.
The Drink
A centuries-old tradition, Caribbean families used guavaberries, rum, and sugar cane to create their own liqueurs. A profitable business even sprang up in the Virgin Islands in the late 1800s, exporting guavaberry wines and rums to Denmark. But its market never broadened, and currently it is hard to find outside of the Caribbean.
Today the historic beverage lives on thanks to its major manufacturer, The Sint Maarten Guavaberry Company. Their Guavaberry Emporium in Phillipsburg offers free samples of their wide assortment of liqueurs. With their vintage varieties and hand painted bottles, they've perfected the guavaberry liqueur like no one else. They also sell rums, barbeque sauces, guavaberry honey, and similar items. Located in a quaint old house on Front Street, the Emporium is a popular stop for tourists to the island.
Although the Sint Maarten's brand is the most widely distributed, travelers may also find some handmade guavaberry liqueurs. In the Virgin Islands, Ashley Nibbs (also known as "the Bush Tea Doctor") brews his own small brand, A. Nibbs Sons & Daughters, according to family tradition. And in the Dominican Republic, people often make their own guavaberry liqueur by filling a jar with guavaberries, pouring in rum to cover, and then burying the jar for a year.
Traditions
Especially beloved at Christmas time, holiday festivities sprang up around guavaberry liqueur. On St. Maarten, carolers would go from door to door, singing "Good morning, good morning, I come for me guavaberry." At each house, they'd receive a small sample from the owner's bottle. But this is not reserved for St. Maarten; residents of the Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic likewise associate the spirit with Christmas celebrations.
Due to its sweet, cherry-like flavor, guavaberry liqueur is more often used in mixed drinks instead of as a stand-alone beverage. It's considered especially delicious as a colada, made by mixing guavaberry liqueur, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. A small amount of the liqueur added to sauces or desserts lends a special flavor to the dish.
But guavaberries weren't only used for liqueur. In some places, they also livened up tarts, cakes, jams, and juices. Those tasty treats can still occasionally be found by lucky travelers. Cubans savor the juicy, bittersweet fruits, eating them plain or making juice. They also make a guavaberry syrup, which is used medicinally for liver problems.
With its scarcity and special taste, those who discover guavaberry liqueur should try a sip. You might even be inspired to bring home a bottle to add to your own Christmas traditions.
