PAPAYA

It has a particular sweet, mild flavour and a soft creamy consistency. The taste is often compared to that of a melon, but less sweet, and with a softer texture.

The pear-shaped exotic fruit is usually eaten as it is or by adding some lemon drops. It can be used for juices, smoothies, salads, fruit pulp, in cocktails, desserts, or to add a touch of fruity taste to your cooking.

In particular, our READY TO EAT Formosa papaya is ripe and tastes best when it is not completely yellow; that is, around 50 percent of the fruit is green.

The most common ways for cutting a papaya is in half lengthways or into slices. Always remove the black seeds. You can peel it and cut it in squares or use a spoon to scoop the flesh out.

Our papayas are READY TO EAT! Nevertheless, if you wish to preserve the fruit for a bit longer, then ensure you refrigerate it in a plastic bag. It should last for a few days more. Once you cut it, store the remaining piece in the fridge in its skin and with the seeds.

Papaya is a very healthy fruit rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and papain, a special enzyme that it is known because of its digestive benefits. Among its powerful nutrients stands its high content of vitamin C and potassium. In 100 grams of papaya, you might get as nutritional value:

Calories: 43
Protein: 0.45 g
Sugar: 7.8 g
Dietary Fibre: 1.7 g
Vitamins: C - A - B9 (Folate) - B5 (Pantothenic acid) - E - K
Minerals: Magnesium – Potassium – Calcium – Iron

Native to Central and northern South America, the papaya is a large plant with a single cylindrical stem. It has a very fast growing process from 5 to 10 m tall. Usually the tree does not have branches. Its leaves are stacked at the top of the trunk from where the fruits also grow one under the other around the stem.

The papaya seeds are edible but they might have a bitter taste when fresh. As with the fruit, they contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. The dried seeds can have a spicy, peppery flavour. They can be grinded up and be used for seasoning food and salad dressing.

In fruit salad preparation, add papaya just before serving as. The powerful enzymes of the fruit tend to cause the other fruits to become very soft.