Papaya vs. Mango — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 14, 2024
Papaya is a tropical fruit known for its buttery texture and digestive benefits, while mango, also tropical, is celebrated for its sweet, juicy flavor and versatility in dishes.
Difference Between Papaya and Mango
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Papaya, with its soft, buttery texture and mild, sweet flavor, is often consumed for its digestive enzymes, making it a favorite among health enthusiasts. On the other hand, mango is renowned for its rich, sweet, and tangy flavor, making it a popular choice in both savory and sweet dishes around the world.
While papaya is rich in papain, a digestive enzyme that aids in breaking down proteins and is often used to tenderize meat, mango is packed with vitamin C and dietary fiber, contributing to immune health and digestive wellness.
Papaya’s cultivation is widespread in tropical regions where the climate is conducive to its growth year-round. Conversely, mango trees require a dry period for flowering and fruit set, leading to seasonal availability in various regions.
In terms of culinary uses, papaya is frequently used in salads, smoothies, and as a natural meat tenderizer, whereas mango finds its place in a wider range of dishes, from chutneys and pickles to juices and desserts.
Despite both being tropical fruits, papaya and mango differ significantly in their appearance; papayas are usually pear-shaped with orange flesh, while mangos are oval and come in a variety of colors from green to yellow and red.
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Comparison Chart
Flavor
Mild and sweet
Rich, sweet, and tangy
Culinary Uses
Salads, smoothies, meat tenderizer
Chutneys, pickles, juices, desserts
Key Nutrients
Papain, fiber
Vitamin C, dietary fiber
Availability
Year-round
Seasonal
Appearance
Pear-shaped, orange flesh
Oval, varies from green to yellow and red
Compare with Definitions
Papaya
Commonly eaten fresh or used in culinary preparations.
Papaya makes a refreshing addition to fruit salads.
Mango
Cultivated mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.
Mango trees flourish in the hot climates of India and Thailand.
Papaya
Known for its digestive enzyme, papain.
The papain in papaya helps tenderize meat effectively.
Mango
A juicy, tropical fruit with a sweet and tangy flavor.
Mango is my favorite ingredient for a summer fruit salad.
Papaya
Grows in tropical climates.
Papayas thrive in the warm weather of tropical regions.
Mango
Rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Eating a mango a day can boost your immune system.
Papaya
Can be used in skincare.
Papaya extract is popular in facial masks for its exfoliating properties.
Mango
Versatile in culinary uses, from desserts to savory dishes.
I love adding mango to salsas for a sweet touch.
Papaya
A tropical fruit with orange, soft flesh and black seeds.
I added some papaya to the smoothie for its digestive benefits.
Mango
The national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Mango is celebrated in numerous festivals across India.
Papaya
The papaya (, US: ) (from Carib via Spanish), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant Carica papaya, one of the 22 accepted species in the genus Carica of the family Caricaceae. Its origin is in the tropics of the Americas, perhaps from Central America and southern Mexico.
Mango
A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree Mangifera indica which is believed to have originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. M. indica has been cultivated in South and Southeast Asia since ancient times resulting in two distinct types of modern mango cultivars: the "Indian type" and the "Southeast Asian type".
Papaya
An evergreen tropical American tree (Carica papaya) with a crown of large lobed leaves, widely cultivated for its large yellow edible fruit.
Mango
A tropical evergreen tree (Mangifera indica) native to Asia, widely cultivated for its edible fruit.
Papaya
The fruit of this tree, having soft pink to orange flesh and numerous small black seeds. In both senses also called pawpaw.
Mango
The oval fruit of this tree, having a smooth rind, sweet juicy flesh, and a flat one-seeded stone, and eaten ripe or pickled when green.
Papaya
A tropical American evergreen tree, Carica papaya, having large, yellow, edible fruit.
Mango
Chiefly North Midland US A bell pepper, especially a green one.
Papaya
The fruit of this tree.
Mango
A tropical Asian fruit tree, Mangifera indica.
Papaya
An orange colour, like that of papaya flesh.
Mango
The fruit of the mango tree.
Papaya
A tree (Carica Papaya) of tropical America, belonging to the order Passifloreæ; called also papaw and pawpaw. It has a soft, spongy stem, eighteen or twenty feet high, crowned with a tuft of large, long-stalked, palmately lobed leaves. The milky juice of the plant is said to have the property of making meat tender.
Mango
A pickled vegetable or fruit with a spicy stuffing; a vegetable or fruit which has been mangoed.
Papaya
The fruit of the papaya tree; it is a dull orange-colored, melon-shaped fruit, which is eaten both raw and cooked or pickled. The fruit contains papain, a protease.
Mango
A green bell pepper suitable for pickling.
Papaya
Tropical American shrub or small tree having huge deeply palmately cleft leaves and large oblong yellow fruit
Mango
A type of muskmelon, Cucumis melo.
Papaya
Large oval melon-like tropical fruit with yellowish flesh
Mango
Any of various hummingbirds of the genus Anthracothorax.
Mango
A yellow-orange color, like that of mango flesh.
Mango
(uncommon) To stuff and pickle (a fruit).
Mango
The fruit of the mango tree. It is rather larger than an apple, and of an ovoid shape. Some varieties are fleshy and luscious, and others tough and tasting of turpentine. The green fruit is pickled for market.
Mango
A green muskmelon stuffed and pickled.
Mango
Large evergreen tropical tree cultivated for its large oval smooth-skinned fruit
Mango
Large oval smooth-skinned tropical fruit with juicy aromatic pulp and a large hairy seed
Common Curiosities
Are papayas and mangos high in sugar?
Both fruits contain natural sugars, but mangoes are typically higher in sugar content.
Can papaya and mango be eaten together?
Yes, they can be combined in salads, smoothies, and desserts for a tropical flavor mix.
Is mango good for your skin?
Yes, mango is rich in vitamins A and C, which are beneficial for skin health.
Can you eat the skin of a papaya?
Yes, but it's not commonly consumed due to its bitter taste.
How do you know when a papaya or mango is ripe?
A ripe papaya gives slightly under pressure and has a yellow skin; a ripe mango is slightly soft and has a fruity aroma.
Can papaya and mango help with weight loss?
Both can be part of a healthy diet due to their fiber content and low calories.
Can you grow papaya and mango trees at home?
Yes, in suitable climates, both can be grown at home with enough space and care.
Do papaya and mango have any medicinal properties?
Yes, papaya is known for its digestive benefits, while mango is known for its immune-boosting properties.
Are there any cultural significances attached to papaya and mango?
Yes, mango has significant cultural importance in South Asia, while papaya is widely used in traditional medicines in many cultures.
Which is better for digestion, papaya or mango?
Papaya is considered better for digestion due to the enzyme papain.
Are there different varieties of papaya and mango?
Yes, both fruits have multiple varieties differing in size, taste, and appearance.
What dishes can you make with papaya?
Papaya is great in salads, smoothies, and as a tenderizer in meat dishes.
How should papaya and mango be stored?
Papayas ripen at room temperature; mangos can be stored at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerated.
What dishes can you make with mango?
Mango can be used in chutneys, pickles, desserts, and salads.
Can papaya and mango be frozen?
Yes, both can be frozen for later use in smoothies or desserts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
