The papaya is a tropical fruit tree native to Central and South America, belonging to the Caricaceae family. Generally modest in size (between 3 and 10 m tall), it has a straight, unbranched trunk crowned with large, deeply-cut, palmate leaves arranged in a spiral at the top. Its shallow root system requires well-drained soil, and the papaya is often grown in warm, humid regions, as it is sensitive to cold and frost.
The fruit of the papaya is the papaya, a large oblong or spherical berry that can measure from 10 to 50cm in length. Its skin, which starts out green, turns orange-yellow when ripe. Its juicy, tender, orange flesh is surrounded by numerous round, shiny black seeds clustered in the centre. Mild and sweet, the taste of papaya is reminiscent of melon and peach. Rich in vitamins (particularly vitamin C), fibre and digestive enzymes (such as papain), papayas are enjoyed as fresh fruit, in salads or juices, and are also used in savoury dishes in many tropical cuisines.
Sources: Wikipedia & Hortus Pépinières
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