Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso: A Story of Pastry, Nostalgia, and Maintaining ‘Cubanity’

For Cuban Americans, the flaky, guava and cream cheese-stuffed pastries are a sweet taste of home

Flaky, buttery pastry, syrupy-sweet guava, and rich, tangy cream cheese come together into an irresistible treat. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

For Cuban-born Marta Darby, sitting down to an espresso with pastelitos de guayaba y queso, “little pastries” of guava and cheese, makes her feel like she is 5 years old again, back on the island.

“It is such a warm feeling,” she said. “It takes me back to the big family reunions. Our family in Cuba was very close until we had to leave.”