Eating (very) local Part VI -- Pawpaw

Headed down to Belle Isle today to look for Pawpaw fruits. Pawpaws are native trees that provide a 'tropical-like' fruit. I'm a little surprised I didn't know about these from growing up. I can't believe that my grandparents didn't know about them -- maybe we we got bougie, we stopped harvesting wild fruit? Or maybe some of the knowledge just didn't get passed down.

Fruit is very creamy, custard-like. I ate it with a spoon out of the pod --


Big mamajamma pits --


I gave the tree a good shake to get these to fall -


I can't quite describe the taste. I saw someone online describe it as a banana taste, but I tasted nothing banana-like. Maybe kinda like a papaya -- but very creamy. But there is something that I can't put my finger on....

Nutritionally, I'm seeing that they are high in protein, A and C, and possibly have anti-cancer benefits.

I believe that the Papaya is also called a Pawpaw, but it's a different species from this one. Although the fruit looks a bit a like.

http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/cooking.htm