# Have you ever eaten pawpaw? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 23, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455 "2023-05-23T04:03:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/21 "2023-05-23T19:37:35Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > There are paw paw cake recipes I’d like to try. My wife made a sort of flan pie thing with them one year which was a qualified success ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/22 "2023-05-23T20:56:49Z")
[Here’s the full article](https://archive.ph/jxG6C) Pawpaws are super popular among homestead/prepping type discussions. Easy to grow I guess? I’ve never had one because they don’t grow here, not sure what the more arid equivalent is - serviceberry? I had durian once and it was kind of disappointing because while it didn’t smell good, it wasn’t as dire as advertised. Once you got past minor unpleasantness it was papaya or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/23 "2023-05-23T21:59:11Z")
I remembered the pawpaw patch song but did not really know what it was referring to. I have enjoyed papaya but try not to give it. I have had soursop before. I think these are different. I don’t think I have ever heard or seen Canadian pawpaw so was surprised to learn it grows here. Probably one of those uberfringe things like Saskatoon berries, spruce beer, dulce or brewis. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/24 "2023-05-24T07:30:11Z")
The cherimoya or custard apple is in the same family as pawpaws, sweetsops and soursops (see images in [Wikipedia link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherimoya)). Mark Twain called it “the most delicious fruit known to men.” I’ve had a few over the years and they _are_ very tasty, although even one is a bit much for me. About the size of a large softball, they’re ideally eaten when ripe enough to be very soft and will be inedible just a few days afterward, as they turn mushy and taste bad, not unlike melons. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/25 "2023-05-24T14:21:08Z")
We had producing paw paw (Asimina triloba) trees in our backyard when we lived in Ohio. Once you scoop out the big seeds, the ripe fruit is custard-like and tasty, but I wouldn’t want to eat it all the time. If you want to grow paw paw you need 2 or more genetically different trees to get fruit. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/26 "2023-05-24T16:54:51Z")
I think my grandmother made paw paw jelly. She made a lot of jelly and preserves. Its why I liked meals at her house. 😋 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/27 "2023-05-24T17:10:04Z")
I’ve had pawpaw and durian. I like pawpaw, I do not like durian. When I lived in Indonesia, my staff loved durian; to me it tasted like bananas soaked in gasoline and smelled worse; my rule was all durian was eaten outside of the office. Pawpaws grow along rivers and streams in the mid-Atlantic. Around September, you can find ripe ones, some are sweet almost like a mango, others are bitter. I’m told there are two varieties. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/28 "2023-05-24T17:17:21Z")
My grandparents had a pawpaw tree up in Maryland, and I really liked eating them as a kid, but they didn’t really have a ‘wow’ factor that would make me seek them out now. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/29 "2023-05-24T18:39:01Z")
Have there been any attempts to grow paw-paw trees outside the eastern US and Canada? Is there a reason why you couldn’t grow them somewhere in California or the Pacific Northwest? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/30 "2023-05-24T18:43:12Z")
I think cherimoya is the most commercially cultivated of this group. I’ve seen it in grocery stores, especially specialty ones like Sprouts. I’ve never seen the others to me knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/31 "2023-05-24T19:03:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve never eaten a pawpaw, but we learned 🎶 _Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch_ 🎶 in early elementary school class sing-alongs. We did, too. In fact, this thread had me singing that line (the only one I could remember) in my head all day yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/32 "2023-05-24T19:11:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > In fact, this thread had me singing that line (the only one I could remember) It’s the only line I remember too. So… [Burl Ives - Way Down Yonder In The Paw Paw Patch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsGJm10nJ6w) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/33 "2023-05-24T19:15:18Z")
Thanks! I didn’t rememer it being Burl Ives. I remember singing the Little White Duck song, when I was a little little kid. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/34 "2023-05-24T19:21:39Z")
Who sang the version with this lyric? 🎶 _Where’s the Clown with the van and the candy?_ _Where’s the Clown with the van and the candy?_ _Where’s the Clown with the van and the candy?_ _Way down yonder in the paw paw patch!_ 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/35 "2023-05-24T19:25:24Z")
No idea. You? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/36 "2023-05-24T19:26:05Z")
Yeah, you got me. I just made it up as I was posting. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/37 "2023-05-24T19:27:24Z")
Hee hee. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/38 "2023-05-24T19:36:21Z")
My grandmother had a pawpaw tree just off her (raised) porch. You could even pick one from the porch occasionally. I can sorta still remember how it tasted. Kinda banan-y, but more with a pear-like consistency. And I knew that song from [a Kidsongs video starring some puppets called the Biggles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTH5zwoZRl0). Though “pawpaw patch” always seemed odd to me since it grows on a tree, not a bush or vine. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/39 "2023-05-24T19:56:03Z")
Paw paws grow wild over a large range. There’s a general requirement for 400 chilling hours in winter to produce fruit (temps under 45 degrees), but that also depends on what variety you grow. There are reportedly cultivars more adaptable to southern growing conditions, which might also do well in mild areas in the PNW. [Kentucky State University | Pawpaw Planting Guide](https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-acs/school-of-ace/pawpaw/pawpaw-planting-guide.php#:~:text=It%20can%20be%20grown%20successfully,close%20to%20the%20Gulf%20Coast). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455/40 "2023-05-24T20:33:04Z")
Any 80s kids remember the [Paw Paw Bears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7uTgMKgJL0)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-pawpaw/984455.md?page=3)