Why do I LOVE to make and eat guava duff?
WHY DO I LOVE TO MAKE AND EAT GUAVA DUFF?
More than being 1) absolutely delicious, and 2) reminiscent of my childhood and precious family time spent, 3) I regard guava duff preparation as an important way to help preserve authentic Bahamian heritage.
Gourmet guava duff with sauce
WHAT IS GUAVA DUFF?
Guava duff (or just ‘duff’ in Bahamian vernacular) is the most popular Bahamian dessert, made of dough and guavas, plus a butter/dessert sauce. And it takes just the right combination of ingredients to make a real guava duff.
“I make real guava duff, not guava cake, not guava bread, guava duff…”
I make real guava duff, not guava cake, not guava bread, guava duff… guava dough… dough being the key difference between real guava duff and anything that imitates it.
The first guava duff I ever made was 38 years ago, so, where real guava duff is concerned, I really do know what I’m talking about!
Gourmet guava duff, fresh from the pot!
WHY IS MAKING REAL GUAVA DUFF IMPORTANT?
We have lost — and continue to lose — much of our Bahamian heritage because of unchecked and limitless outside influences on our culture.
It’s especially frustrating for me to visit hotels and restaurants in The Bahamas and see what is being served as guava duff — I have never once found the real thing outside of a family kitchen where a Bahamian parent or grandparent made guava duff the traditional way with the accompanying texture and flavor.
And that is my focus and specialty - making guava duff that is authentically traditional in texture and taste.
HOW DO I MAKE MY GUAVA DUFF?
Gourmet duff, ready to eat!
I focus my duff-making on quality ingredients and personal satisfaction, rather than cheap quality content and mass production.
Duff is meant to be a dessert, not a meal… so to respect portion size, I make only gourmet-style duffs. I also respect dietary restrictions, by using the least amount of sugar and salt possible in my guava duff and sauce.
When you order my duffs online, you have to book a pick up time because my duffs are made to order for immediate serving. Duffs are best eaten when freshly cooked, when the cooking heat from within the duff melts the sauce on top.
A pick up time also helps me determine lead and prep time, because authentic duffs take quite a while to prepare and cook, and all my dough is freshly rolled only hours before your order is filled. (Try to get your online order in at least 12 hours in advance, please!)
My duffs can be stored for transport and future enjoyment; be sure to ask for this when you place your order. But there’s just nothing like a warm, soft duff that melts in your mouth right out of the pot!! There is no more excellent way to enjoy real Bahamian guava duff!
Remember, if it’s cooked on the stovetop (boiled), it’s a real duff. If it’s baked in the oven, it is not a real duff. I am not a pastry chef, but I am a guava duff-maker and guava duff connoisseur — three and a half decades and counting!
Gourmet-style, personal guava duff
