The History of the Pastelito de Guayaba (and How Cheese Got Involved)

Walk into any Cuban bakery in Miami, a Puerto Rican panadería in New York, or a Dominican café in Santo Domingo, and chances are high you’ll spot a tray of golden, flaky pastries filled with bright pink guava paste. These sweet treats, known as pastelitos de guayaba, are more than just a snack, they're edible heritage. And when cheese enters the mix? That’s when it becomes a whole new level of comfort food.

But where did this tropical treat come from?

🌴 Origins: The Guava Fruit

Before there was the pastry, there was guayaba.

Guava is native to Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. Indigenous peoples like the Taíno were consuming and cultivating guava long before Europeans arrived. High in vitamin C & tangy sweetness, guava became a cherished fruit across the region. It was eaten raw, made into juice, or cooked down into a thick, sliceable paste (pasta de guayaba).

Enter Cuba: Birthplace of the Pastelito de Guayaba

The pastelito de guayaba as we know it today is most closely associated with Cuban cuisine.

By the early 20th century, pastelitos de guayaba had become a beloved fixture in Cuban bakeries. Light, flaky, and filled with bright pink guava paste. When many Cubans emigrated after the 1959 revolution, they brought their recipes with them, most notably to Miami, where the pastelito remains a cultural icon.

So Where Did Cheese Join the Pastelito?

The pairing of guava and cheese (guayaba con queso) isn’t unique to pastelitos it's a widespread tradition throughout Latin America. In Puerto Rico, it's common to see guava paste served alongside a slice of white cheese (queso blanco) as a snack or dessert. In Colombia and Venezuela, this combo is known as bocadillo con queso.

The guava-only pastelito came from Cuba, but the addition of cheese inside the pastry likely developed in Miami after the Cuban exile wave of the 1960s.

Why?

• American influence: Cream cheese was more widely available and popular in the U.S.

• Fusion cuisine: Immigrant communities began blending traditional recipes with accessible ingredients.

• Popularity: The richness of the cheese balanced the sweetness of the guava, making it a hit in local bakeries.

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By the 1980s–1990s, guava and cheese pastelitos had become a bakery staple in Cuban-American and broader Latinx communities, especially in South Florida.

🍽️ The Cultural Significance of Pastelitos de Guayaba

Pastelitos de guayaba are not just pastries; they symbolize cultural identity for countless Latin Americans. In Cuban culture, these pastries grace celebrations, family gatherings, and even breakfast tables. Their widespread availability in bakeries and homes reflects the shared history and traditions of the Cuban people.