POG – Hawaii’s Passion Orange Guava Juice (Make It Fresh)

Every kid who grew up in Hawaii knows POG. It was in our school cafeterias, at every soccer game, in the back of every mom’s minivan. That sweet, tangy, sunshine-in-a-glass combination of passion fruit, orange, and guava is as Hawaiian as it gets—even though, technically, it was invented at a dairy.

I still remember the first time I tried making it fresh, using actual fruit instead of the powdered mix or carton stuff. It was revelatory. The flavors were brighter, more complex, and I finally understood why this specific combination became legendary.

What Is POG?

POG stands for Passion fruit, Orange, and Guava—three tropical fruits blended into one perfect juice. It was created in 1971 by Mary Soon, a food product development consultant at Haleakala Dairy on Maui. The combination was so perfect it became an instant classic.

Today, POG is everywhere in Hawaii. Meadow Gold produces the most popular commercial version, but almost every local brand has their take. The game “POG” (with the cardboard discs) was actually named after the drink—kids collected the caps from POG juice bottles and turned them into a game in the 1990s.

Why This Combination Works

Each fruit brings something essential:

• Passion fruit (lilikoi): Tart, aromatic, intensely tropical. The backbone of the blend.
• Orange: Sweet, familiar, balances the tartness. Provides body and vitamin C.
• Guava: Floral, musky, uniquely Hawaiian. Adds depth and that unmistakable island flavor.

Alone, each fruit is good. Together, they’re magic.

Ingredients (Fresh Version)

• 1 cup fresh passion fruit pulp (about 8-10 passion fruits)
• 2 cups fresh orange juice (about 4-5 oranges)
• 1 cup guava nectar or puree
• 2-3 tablespoons honey or simple syrup (adjust to taste)
• 1 cup cold water
• Ice for serving

Instructions

1. Prepare the passion fruit: Cut passion fruits in half and scoop out the pulp and seeds. For a smoother juice, strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing to extract all the liquid. For more texture, leave some pulp.
2. Juice the oranges: Fresh-squeezed is best, but quality store-bought works if you’re short on time.
3. Combine: In a large pitcher, mix passion fruit juice, orange juice, guava nectar, and water.

4. Sweeten: Add honey or simple syrup. Start with 2 tablespoons, taste, and adjust. Fresh fruit varies in sweetness.
5. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The flavors meld beautifully when cold.
6. Serve: Pour over ice and enjoy.

The Easy Version

Can’t find fresh passion fruit or guava? No shame in the shortcut game:

• 1 cup passion fruit concentrate (Goya or similar)
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup guava nectar (Kerns or Hawaiian Sun)
• 1 cup water
• Sugar to taste

Mix, chill, serve. It won’t be quite as vibrant as fresh, but it’ll still transport you to the islands.

Where to Find the Ingredients

• Passion fruit: Asian markets, Latino markets, or specialty grocers. Look for wrinkled fruit—that means it’s ripe.
• Guava nectar: Most grocery stores carry Goya or Kerns brand. Hawaiian Sun brand if you can find it.
• Guava puree: Frozen section of international markets, or order online.

Variations

• POG Smoothie: Add frozen banana and blend for a thicker, creamier version
• POG Spritzer: Mix with sparkling water for a lighter, fizzy drink
• POG Cocktail: Add 2 oz vodka or rum for an adult version
• POG Popsicles: Freeze in molds for a perfect summer treat

Serving Suggestions

POG is perfect with:

• Hawaiian breakfast – especially Portuguese sausage and eggs
• Plate lunch – cuts through the richness beautifully
• After a beach day – nothing hydrates like fresh POG
• Kids’ parties – the original Hawaii punch

A Taste of Home

For those of us who grew up in Hawaii, POG isn’t just a drink—it’s nostalgia in a glass. It’s elementary school field days, soccer tournaments, family beach picnics. Making it fresh brings back all those memories while creating something even better than we remember.

Give it a try. One sip and you’ll understand why three simple fruits became an island legend.