How Guava Became Tampa’s Signature Flavor, with Historian Rodney Kite-Powell

You know it when you smell it. But how do you put into words the unmistakable, indescribable scent of guava? And then there’s the taste: sour on its own, but irresistibly sweet in a guava-and-cream-cheese pastry or a pint of guava ice cream from Publix. For a lesson in all things guava, we turned to historian Rodney Kite-Powell of the Tampa Bay History Center.In this episode, you’ll learn: The fruit’s role in the creation of modern Tampa, which is nicknamed The Big Guava. Why Ybor City’s iconic Guavaween festival became a victim of its own success. Why the guava industry remains small but mighty. So grab a pastelito and a cup of café con leche, and settle in for this enlightening conversation.