Even though pawpaws are locally grown in Ohio, they are surprisingly difficult to come by!
If you’re a non-local like me, you might be wondering, if pawpaws are native to the region, why can’t you just buy one in a grocery store?
This is because the fruit must ripen on the tree, and once the fruit is ready to eat, it begins to spoil as soon as it is picked. So a fruit foraged in the morning may begin to spoil by that afternoon! You also have to be careful handling and transporting because pawpaws bruise easily. All of this makes these sweet fruits turn bitter quickly! So to taste of one of these elusive fruits, you have to go directly to the source and either freeze or eat them immediately.
This means you can find pawpaws in one of three places:
- From a friend or farmer’s market seller who grows them (let me know if you find one!)
- In the wild, in a forest, usually near a creek
- At the Ohio Pawpaw Festival that occurs annually each Sept. in Athens, OH
I lived in Cincinnati nine years before I was able to track one down, and it took going to the festival to make it happen!
What do pawpaws taste like?
They have a custard-like texture that reminds most of a mix of tropical fruits such as mango, banana, pineapple, and/or papaya. Flavor is also influenced by how ripe the fruit is and the type of growing climate, and different cultivars will have distinct flavor differences, too.
Where do pawpaw grow?
Pawpaws typically grow in the woods by rivers and creeks. They are a shade and water-loving smaller tree.
When should you pick?
The first few weeks of Sept. are a good bet. The convention is to not pick them directly from a tree but to shake the tree instead. Collect them when they fall to be certain they’re ripe.
Determining ripeness
“Don’t eat when green!” is a common phrase you hear because the hard, unriped pawpaw compounds can make you sick.
But you do actually want to eat them when they are green, and not brown, in order to eat them at their sweetest. The more yellow they become, the more bitter they taste.
Similar to a peach, the best way to tell ripeness is to feel the fruit. When the fruit is just beginning to soften, while still green, is the best time to eat.
Can you freeze pawpaws?
Yes! Some people pop them into the freezer whole, then peel them frozen with a potato peeler. After peeling, let them soften a bit then use a knife to chop and sift out seeds before the fruit fully thaws and becomes mushy. Then refreeze immediately for later use or use right away!
Check out this blog post to learn more: https://www.tyrantfarms.com/how-to-eat-and-process-pawpaw-fruit/
Pawpaw Recipes
- Baked Cheesecake https://foragerchef.com/paw-paw-cheesecake/
- No bake cheesecake https://www.tyrantfarms.com/no-bake-pawpaw-cheesecake-asimina-triloba-w-toasted-pecan-crust/
- Various recipes including pies https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-ahnr/school-of-anr/pawpaw/recipes-and-uses.php
Word of caution: some people may be allergic. Others have reported stomach issues when the pawpaws are cooked. So as with any new food you’re trying, eat small quantities your first time! And enjoy!
Additional Resources
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