Feijoa Fandango

The Full Conversation

The complete script for this episode, with the two hosts, in eleven parts.

1. 01Intro

   Amiyah: Hey guys, hope y'all having a good day. How is y'all today?
   Poke: Doing great, sunny as ever over here. How are you, Amiyah?
   Amiyah: Feeling great and ready to learn something new.
   Amiyah: All right, let's spin the wheel and see what we have today.
   Poke: boom. Feijoas!
   Amiyah: The hosts gave the wheel a spin and it clicked to a stop on the feijoa, a sun loving fruit that smells like a garden in bloom. That set the theme for a sweet and fragrant trip into a fruit many listeners may never have tried.
   Poke: Oh, this is going to be a good one. Feijoas has range.

2. 02History

   Poke: So where does feijoas actually come from?
   Amiyah: Feijoas are native to the highlands of southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina, where they grow on a small evergreen shrub in the myrtle family.
   Poke: Over the last century feijoa growing spread to warm and temperate regions around the world, and the fruit became especially beloved in New Zealand, where it has its own short autumn season and a devoted following.

3. 03Fun Facts

   Amiyah: Okay, hit me with the fun facts.
   Poke: A feijoa is also called a pineapple guava because its flavor blends pineapple, guava, and a hint of mint.
   Amiyah: Okay, that is so good to know.
   Poke: The whole fruit is edible, including the thin green skin.
   Amiyah: I did not know that at all.
   Poke: Feijoas are packed with vitamin C and fiber.
   Amiyah: That tracks.
   Poke: The flowers of the feijoa shrub are also edible and taste sweet and slightly fruity.

4. 04Varieties

   Amiyah: Let us talk varieties. What is out there?
   Poke: Feijoas come in several varieties that range from sweet to more tangy.
   Amiyah: Go on.
   Poke: Apollo feijoas are large and very sweet with a soft texture.
   Amiyah: Gemini feijoas are juicy with a strong pineapple like flavor.
   Poke: I did not know that at all.
   Amiyah: Unique feijoas are smaller and a little more tart.

5. 05World Use

   Amiyah: I love this part. How do different cultures enjoy it?
   Poke: In New Zealand, feijoas are a beloved autumn treat eaten fresh by the handful.
   Amiyah: Wait, really?
   Poke: In Brazil and Uruguay, they are enjoyed fresh and made into jams and drinks.
   Amiyah: Okay, that is so good to know.
   Poke: Around the world, feijoas flavor smoothies, baked goods, and sparkling drinks.
   Amiyah: I did not know that at all.
   Poke: The fruit is often cut in half and scooped out with a spoon.

6. 06Myth

   Amiyah: Time for the Myth of the Week. What do people get wrong?
   Poke: A lot of people think some people believe you have to peel a feijoa before eating it.
   Amiyah: Right, that makes sense.
   Poke: Here is the truth. You do not. The thin green skin is tender and fully edible, and many people enjoy the fruit whole, skin and all.

7. 07Fan Question

   Poke: A listener wrote in. Let us hear it.
   Poke: How can you tell when a feijoa is ripe?
   Amiyah: Love this question.
   Amiyah: A ripe feijoa gives slightly when you press it and smells sweet and fragrant. It should feel soft but not mushy, and it is best eaten soon after it ripens.

8. 08Host Opinions

   Amiyah: Let me give you my honest, unvarnished opinion.
   Amiyah: I will be real, this one is growing on me the more we talk about it.
   Poke: Okay okay, fair, I will allow it.
   Amiyah: Amiyah loves feijoas scooped straight from the shell with a spoon, calling them a little burst of sunshine.
   Poke: Poke prefers feijoas blended into a cool smoothie on a warm afternoon.
   Poke: See, this is why people tune in, the strong opinions.

9. 09Lightning Round

   Amiyah: Okay, quick facts, lightning round style.
   Amiyah: Feijoas grow on a small evergreen shrub.
   Poke: Their season is short, often just a few weeks in autumn.
   Amiyah: The skin, flesh, and even the flowers are edible.
   Poke: They smell sweet and floral when fully ripe.

10. 10Recap

    Amiyah: Let us recap what we learned today.
    Poke: The hosts learned that feijoas are a sun loving fruit with a sweet pineapple and mint flavor, edible skin, and a short autumn season, treasured in warm gardens from South America to New Zealand.

11. 11Recipe

    Amiyah: Time to head to the kitchen.
    Poke: Today we are making Fresh Feijoa and Mint Smoothie. The full ingredients and steps are right below.
    Amiyah: Thanks for spinning with us. Spin It. Learn It. Love It.™

Recipe Segment

Fresh Feijoa and Mint Smoothie