Healthy Food Database

The papaya is thought to be indigenous to the West Indies and northern South America. When the Europeans first saw it they called it a tree melon as many varieties are melon shaped. In Australia, the papaya is sometimes referred to as papaw, although there is some confusion with some people only using the term papaya (or Hawaiian papaya) for the smaller variety with slightly wrinkled, yellow skin and sweet red flesh.

Papaya has distinct orange-red flesh and is pear-shaped with yellow-orange coloured skin. Different from papaw, it has a sweeter flavour so is great in desserts or on its own.

Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. Papain is especially high when the fruit is unripe and may ...