Pawpaw vs. Papaya — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Pawpaw is a small tree with large leaves and edible fruit, native to North America. Papaya is a tropical fruit from a tall tree, native to Central America.
Difference Between Pawpaw and Papaya
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pawpaw, native to North America, is a small tree belonging to the Annonaceae family. It produces large, broad leaves and bears medium-sized fruits with a custard-like texture.
Papaya, originating from Central America, is a tropical fruit from a tall tree. It belongs to the Caricaceae family and produces large, pear-shaped fruits with a sweet taste.
Pawpaws are not commonly found in supermarkets due to their short shelf life and delicate nature. They have a rich, creamy texture and a taste that's often described as a mix of banana and mango.
Papayas are widely available in grocery stores around the world. Their flesh is soft and orange with a central cavity filled with black seeds. Papayas are often eaten fresh or used in cooking and salads.
Pawpaws are the largest edible fruit native to the United States and have been enjoyed by indigenous people for centuries. They have a thin skin that turns from green to black as they ripen.
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Papayas are rich in vitamins C and A and are known for their digestive enzyme, papain. The fruit has a smooth skin that turns from green to yellow as it ripens.
Comparison Chart
Origin
Native to North America
Native to Central America
Tree Size
Small tree
Tall tree
Fruit Shape
Medium-sized, oval
Large, pear-shaped
Taste
Mix of banana and mango, custard-like
Sweet, soft, and fresh
Availability
Less common in supermarkets
Widely available in grocery stores
Skin Color
Turns from green to black when ripe
Turns from green to yellow when ripe
Family
Annonaceae
Caricaceae
Culinary Uses
Often eaten fresh, used in desserts
Eaten fresh, used in cooking and salads
Seed Appearance
Few, large seeds
Numerous, small, black seeds
Nutritional Value
Rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants
High in vitamins C and A, contains papain enzyme
Compare with Definitions
Pawpaw
Any of various deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Asimina of the eastern and southeast United States, especially A. triloba, having maroon flowers with three sepals and six petals and fleshy, yellowish-green, edible fruit.
Papaya
A large, pear-shaped fruit with a sweet taste.
The market was filled with fresh papayas.
Pawpaw
The fruit of any of these plants.
Papaya
A tropical fruit from a tall tree, rich in papain.
She added ripe papaya to the fruit salad.
Pawpaw
See papaya.
Papaya
A tree native to Central America, with large leaves.
The papaya tree in their yard finally bore fruit.
Pawpaw
Any of several types of trees having edible fruit:
Papaya
A fruit high in vitamins C and A.
For a vitamin boost, she enjoyed a papaya smoothie.
Pawpaw
Asimina, a genus of trees and shrubs native to eastern North America, especially common pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
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.
Pawpaw
Papaya (Carica papaya), a widely cultivated tropical fruit tree
Papaya
An evergreen tropical American tree (Carica papaya) with a crown of large lobed leaves, widely cultivated for its large yellow edible fruit.
Pawpaw
Mountain pawpaw (Vasconcellea pubescens), a fruit tree native to South America
Papaya
The fruit of this tree, having soft pink to orange flesh and numerous small black seeds. In both senses also called pawpaw.
Pawpaw
The fruit of these trees.
Papaya
A tropical American evergreen tree, Carica papaya, having large, yellow, edible fruit.
Pawpaw
Grandfather.
Papaya
The fruit of this tree.
Pawpaw
Same as Papaya.
Papaya
An orange colour, like that of papaya flesh.
Pawpaw
Tropical American shrub or small tree having huge deeply palmately cleft leaves and large oblong yellow fruit
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.
Pawpaw
Small tree native to the eastern United States having oblong leaves and fleshy fruit
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.
Pawpaw
Fruit with yellow flesh; related to custard apples
Papaya
Tropical American shrub or small tree having huge deeply palmately cleft leaves and large oblong yellow fruit
Papaya
Large oval melon-like tropical fruit with yellowish flesh
Papaya
A fruit commonly used in cooking and salads.
He marinated the meat in papaya to tenderize it.
Common Curiosities
Where is the pawpaw tree native to?
The pawpaw tree is native to North America.
What's the nutritional value of papaya?
Papaya is rich in vitamins C and A and contains the digestive enzyme papain.
Can you eat papaya seeds?
Yes, papaya seeds are edible and often used as a spice.
What does pawpaw fruit taste like?
Pawpaw fruit has a creamy texture with a taste similar to a mix of banana and mango.
Can you grow pawpaw trees from seeds?
Yes, pawpaw trees can be grown from seeds, but they require specific conditions.
How do you know when a papaya is ripe?
A papaya is ripe when its skin turns from green to yellow and it yields slightly to pressure.
Is pawpaw common in grocery stores?
No, pawpaws are not commonly found in supermarkets due to their short shelf life.
Are there different varieties of papayas?
Yes, there are several varieties of papayas, varying in size, shape, and taste.
Are pawpaws used in cooking?
Pawpaws are primarily eaten fresh but can also be used in desserts.
How big can pawpaw trees grow?
Pawpaw trees are relatively small and usually grow up to 20 feet tall.
Can papaya skin be eaten?
Papaya skin is not commonly eaten due to its texture and taste.
Is papaya used in traditional medicine?
Yes, papaya has been used in traditional medicine, particularly for its digestive benefits.
What part of the papaya plant is edible?
Both the fruit and leaves of the papaya plant are edible.
Is pawpaw fruit available year-round?
Pawpaw fruit is typically seasonal and not available year-round.
What's the best climate for growing pawpaws?
Pawpaws thrive in temperate climates with rich, well-drained soil.
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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.
