I try exotic fruit Part 5 (?): Strawberry Sunrise Papaya
Sorry if you’ve been following this regularly, because:
I forgot how many I’ve already done, and I’m far to lazy to check
I have not actually been updating this regularly
But thanks anyway!
This is a pretty popular locally-grown cultivar of papaya (or pawpaw) in Hawaii. I haven’t eat papaya much prior to this, and I didn’t remember it being something I enjoyed. Mum wanted to try this though, so I agreed, thinking my opinion might change about the fruit.
We picked one that had more yellow, and let it ripen a bit further on the counter. I heard that if it over-ripens it actually reeks, so I think we caught this at just the right time.
The seeds reminds me a bit of passionfruit, while the flesh resembles cantaloupe. The texture was also quite soft, maybe even softer than a muskmelon, and I scooped the flesh from the rind.
Taste-wise, this fruit is pretty bland/mild, somewhere between a melon and a squash/pumpkin. Floral notes were faintly detected in the after-taste. At least my mum though it was tasty!
Perhaps my prejudice subconsciously affected my perception. I remember a time when I used to think mango was unappetizing; now it’s one of my favorite fruits. I have yet to try this in a smoothie or with some salt or citrus, which might enhance the natural aromas. While it wasn’t my favorite fruit, it’s something I’m curious to try again.
