Fruit

Carica papaya

S tier

Carica papaya is the cultivated papaya species behind almost all commercial fruit—fast-growing tropical trees or large herbs bearing elongated to pear-shaped berries with a seed-filled central cavity. Flesh runs salmon to deep orange when ripe; green fruit stays firm and mild for salads and stews. Latex rich in papain flows from green skins and stems and has long culinary and processing uses as a protease. Recipes that say papaya mean C. papaya of some market type unless mountain papaya or related Caricaceae are specified. Climacteric ripening continues off the plant, so firm yellowing fruit can finish at home. Mexico, India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia lead volume; flavour quality varies sharply with harvest maturity and cultivar.