Comments on: Pawpaws

By: mike

mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:02:27 +0000

They usually grow near creeks and rivers. Even if you learn to identify the trees there’s no guarantee that the trees will have fruit. In a clump of four or five trees only one or two may have fruit in the early to mid fall. Paddling along the Potomac or the canal you can often smell them before you see them. They taste and smell like a combination of over ripe banana and custard. Imagine banana pudding that has the texture of pumpkin flesh. With almond size seeds. I like ‘em, but they take a little getting used to. The persimmons are dropping now, and if they’re ripe, they are as their scientific name diospyros says, food of the gods. Under ripe ones will pucker your mouth in an unforgettably unpleasant way. Unripe pawpaws are merely flavorless and starchy. They are generally ripe when they look like a too far gone banana- blackish green, spotted and soft. Free food in the forest, folks!

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:27:21 +0000

Every time I read pawpaw I can’t help but sing the theme song from Paw Paw Bears…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjkkMtMJxc4

By: Dootsie

Dootsie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:58:54 +0000

I grew up in Kentucky, where they grow wild.
I guess I’d describe the taste as a banana creme cake batter with the consistency of a dry smushed banana. Very perculiar!

By: April

April — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:44:20 +0000

I grew up in Indiana and pawpaws are all over there. They are good – often compared to a banana, but I think they are definatly their own fruit. I’d like to grow a tree here in New Hampshire.

By: James

James — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:27:16 +0000

@Jessie they are really hard to find in Maryland and I have no idea about boston even though it’s probably in the range of where they can grow. I think Ohio is the pawpaw capital, at least they have a pawpaw festival.

By: James

James — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:25:14 +0000

Pawpaws are really sweet with a slight tang. Again, it’s really hard to describe.

@Kang I didn’t mean that the flavor is like a banana or a papaya, I meant the texture is similar.

If you are interested in trying pawpaws or even growing your own plants it looks like these guys have quite a few pawpaw products including frozen pawpaw pulp!

http://www.integrationacres.com/products.html

By: Jessie

Jessie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:05:03 +0000

I’m an east-coast creature and I’ve never in my life seen a pawpaw! Your jam looks wonderful! And I love the idea of pawpaw ice cream! Do you think I can find them as far north as Boston?

+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse

By: emily

emily — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:30:49 +0000

I wish I could imagine what these taste like…are they sweet? Sour? Are they juicy? I’m so curious to try one now…Thanks!!

By: kang

kang — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:25:18 +0000

Yeah completely unknown across the pond here, that sounds pretty interesting a papaya-banana taste… that jam sounds pretty cool….. and hang on.. did you say ice cream

my favorite words