This blog post speaks of the last fruit that we are covering this month. And the most fantastic part is that the origins of this particular fruit are similar to Chikoo and Guava. Believed to have originated in Mesoamerica, the PAPAYA has traveled globally. It is practically found in all corners of the world. We shall come to that in a bit.
However, first things first,
Wondering about Papaya and Mesoamerica?
Mesoamerica signifies modern day Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and central to southern Mexico.
In the 16th century, Spaniards were the first to take the salmon-colored fruit out of Meso America. Then, in 1526 Papaya was shipped to Indonesia. And from there, it spread to the East Indies, tropical Asia, and other countries. Finally, the European colonial powers like Portugal, Denmark, Great Britain, and France introduced the fruit in Africa. Approximately at the same time, the Papaya traveled from Caribbeans to India via Malaysia.
Gradually, Pawpaw (the name for Papaya in Jamaica) expanded its branches from Hawaii, the USA to India and in Queensland, Australia. One can locate the ABABAI (the name given by the Caribbeans) in different sizes and colors.
One can find the sun-loving Papaya tree in tropical regions and countries as it is extra sensitive to frost and cold weather. It is generally 10 feet tall. And though it is a berry, you will be surprised to know that the Papaya is the fruit of a herb.
Papaya- A Gender-Based Fruit
But, a fascinating discovery regarding the fruit was this:
You can distinguish the fruit based on Gender.
Whoa!!! Yes, yes, I had the same reaction. Isn’t the planet simply amazing? Every fruit, vegetable, species is so unique and distinguished.
Never did I know that this super healthy and delicious fruit was:
MALE: these trees have pollen and flowers, but they are not fruit-bearing.
FEMALE: On the other hand, the female papaya tree produces inedible fruits until these trees pollinate.
-HERMAPHRODITES: These trees self-pollinate and are fruit-bearing trees. They are fit for human consumption and are traded commercially.
In general, Papayas are either ripe or unripe. The ripe ones are orange in color and consumed in their original form. The unripe ones are green and are either cooked or eaten as a salad. Like the yummy Thai Papaya Salad!!! It’s a must-have whenever one is out for dinner. The exquisite flavors transform the unripe Papaya into a masterpiece.
Papaya’s Varieties
The ripe cultivars are available in plenty. Some of them are as follows:
– the Hawaiian Sunrise or Sunset papayas, Hawaii
– the Oakleaf ones are found in the Andes in South America.
– Hortus Gold Papaya lives up to its name of being utterly Yellow from the outside and is found in South Africa.
– Red and Yellow Papaya, available in Mexico.
India and Papaya
Papaya is found extensively in India, with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal as the primary producers of the fruit.
Varieties:
Pusa Dwarf, Pusa Majesty, Pusa Giant, Pusa Delicious cultivars
Solo
Mahabindu
Ranchi cultivar from Bihar and Jharkhand and many more.
Did you know that the Papaya is laden with innumerable benefits?
Firstly, it is excellent for skin and hair health. So, ladies, don’t think twice before relishing this super fruit.
The Papain enzyme aids in digestion and may relieve muscle soreness.
The fruit is rich in Antioxidants and is high in fiber
Moreover, it is laden with Vitamin A, C, and E.
All in all, the Lechosa (name in Venezuela) is a power-packed fruit with tremendous benefits. Therefore, it is an absolute must for all barring expecting women and new mothers.
As for me, I’m a self-confessed food lover and a fruitaholic. So naturally, life without these fruits seems unimaginable. And consequently, it is imperative that, as humans, we all take adequate steps to preserve this wonderful planet’s flora and fauna.
Anyways, this concludes the November Edition for the Fruits!!!
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did during my research.
Do share your feedback and comments to help us deliver better.
