Pawpaw Information
What is Pawpaw fruit like? |
The recent interest and rekindled fascination with the Pawpaw fruit is dutifully earned. Pawpaw is an astoundingly delicious fruit with a texture some have likened to vanilla custard. Eaten fresh it is bursting with a nutritional spectrum from protein to carbohydrates to vitamins and minerals all encased in a delicious mildly-sweet melting flesh. The flavor of Pawpaw varies slightly with varieties but most agree that it is like a fruit custard with hints of vanilla, sometimes a hint of lemon to pineapple and even caramelized banana in it's most ripe state. It is like no other fruit on earth. Once eaten it is very difficult to not seek it out every year.
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History |
Asimina triloba, (Pawpaw), is native to North America. It is a breathtakingly beautiful tree in Spring, Summer, and Fall. It is one of the few fruit trees that is also an ornamental. It's growth habit is like a Christmas tree whose large, hunter green leaves yellow to a brightly lit golden in the Fall. It was noted in the journal of Lewis & Clark on their pilot journey West. At the advice of native American guides they ate the small but highly nutritious wild Pawpaws to augment their dwindling food supply. The North American pawpaw has been bred and cross bred through various stages in the history of the United States. Only a small handful of remaining open domain named varieties are worthy of comment as far as quality and flavor. Peterson Pawpaws under the care and selection of Neal Peterson over the past 20+ years brought this species back into the public eye with what is quite possibly the finest collection of select Pawpaw varieties produced in the species history. Here at Forest View Pawpaws we regularly see our Peterson pawpaws exceed 1.3 lbs in varieties that normally average only 12 ounces. Our largest pawpaw to date weighed 1.67 lbs (Potomac) and was of exceeding superior eating quality.
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Nutrition |
Pawpaws contain a remarkable balance and range of vitamins and minerals:
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Fruiting Season |
Pawpaws tend to ripen later in cooler climates and sooner in warmer climates. Here at Forest View Pawpaws, (Zone 7a), our Pawpaws start ripening about the 3rd week of August up to the 2nd week in September. Since our micro-climate may vary from year to year the pawpaw ripening season can vary by as much as one to two weeks. Each year we post when each variety will ripen about 1 month in advance so feel free to check in to see when you can get Pawpaw fruit by clicking here.
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Eating |
Some cut pawpaws radially, some cut them lengthwise, and some peel the skin and eat them like a popsicle. We like to eat them with a spoon like custard, (and the texture is very much like a vanilla custard when fully ripe). Spoon out the seeds and scoop out the delicate sweet pawpaw custard until done.
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Preserving |
How to preserve pawpaws varies from grower to grower and person to person. We prefer to eat Pawpaws fresh for the flavor and nutrition that comes from eating freshly grown foods. Some have made Pawpaw jams and preserves and some simply freeze the fresh de-seeded pulp. We suggest avoiding anything that dehydrates pawpaws.
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Growing |
More detail coming soon...
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