Available year-round in a fascinating array of varieties, papayas are becoming more than just a produce aisle curiosity.
It’s easy to see why; this oblong-shaped tropical fruit is packed with healthy vitamin C, fiber and folate, and it’s deliciously versatile.
Papayas can be blended into smoothies, mixed into salsas, grated into spicy Thai salads, cubed and kissed with a squeeze of lime, and even roasted in the oven with a sprinkling of brown sugar.
Recent data tells the story of the papaya’s growing popularity.
U.S. dollar sales grew 9.4% to $115.6 million during the 52 weeks ending Dec. 4, 2022, according to IRI OmniMarket Integrated Fresh, while volume sales increased by almost 4%. With that kind of showing, the papaya is a fruit that’s worth getting to know.
Here’s the lowdown on some of the most common varieties.
Golden Papaya
True to their name, golden papayas change from green to yellow as they ripen. The fruit is native to Central and South America and is known for its deep orange flesh, mild sweetness and firm, juicy texture. Weighing in at around 1 pound, this variety has a slight melon flavor and low acidity.
Hawaiian
The Hawaiian papaya is about the size of a large pear, so it’s a great single-serve option. The variety starts out green and is ready to eat when it turns three-quarters yellow. The flesh is sweet, combining flavors of melon and peach.
Maradol
Maradols are also called Mexican papayas because of their origin. They’re large and heavy, with dark green skins that turn yellow when the fruit is fully ripe. The maradol’s flesh is sweet, with musky aromas and flavors.
Red Lady
Weighing 2 to 5 pounds, this variety ripens from green to bright yellow, but it can be eaten when it’s halfway between green and yellow. The red lady is known for its salmon-colored flesh, sweet aroma and melon-like flavor.
Strawberry
The strawberry papaya is a smaller, pear-shaped variety that starts out green and ripens to a golden hue with green speckles. Its salmon- colored flesh is firm, juicy and intensely sweet, with hints of melon and peach flavors.
Tainung
Also called a formosa papaya, the football-shaped tainung typically weighs 4 pounds or more. It has a yellow and green-spotted skin, along with firm, salmon-colored flesh and a sweet flavor.
For a visual papaya primer, go here: Know Your Papayas
