Papaya

Buy the best papayas from the Axarquia region.. The best specimens of this tropical fruit are found in the Huerta de Pancha. They will arrive at your home in the best harvesting point, so you have to wait several days before you can eat them.

Seasonal papayas, a very tasty organic fruit, and perfect to use as a dessert and to complement any type of food.

Characteristics of papayas

The papaya is a large, pear-shaped, pear-shaped, ovoid berry, large in colour yellowish green, yellow or orange-yellow. Inside is the pulp, soft and very juicy, with a flavour of sweet and smooth. The the flesh is orange or reddish in colour, and has numerous seeds black, shiny and spicy. The fruit can be 10 to 25 cm long and more than 15 cm in diameter.

Virtually everything can be made from papaya. In some countries, its dried and crushed seeds are used as a spices. In addition, in other countries they are consumed in infusion of the leaves of the shrub to treat malaria.

The outer skin should be more yellow than green, or even with some brown spotting, to be ready for consumption.

Types of papayas

The main varieties of papayas that exist are the Hawaiian papaya, the tainung papaya and the maradol papaya.. They differ mainly in their shape, the colour of the flesh and the aroma of each of these fruits.

Own papaya crops in Malaga

In Huerta de Pancha we have chosen to grow organic papayas.. To this end, we have the best climatic conditions and soil quality.

We harvest the papayas between November and July, which means that you will be able to consume this seasonal fruit for more than half a year.

Temperature and soil of papaya trees

The average annual temperature in La Axarquía, the area where our crops are grown, is 20-22º; in other words, we have a tropical climate where temperatures are not too cold and not too hot either.

Furthermore, we have chosen an area that has fertile, light and deep soils, in which the roots of the papaya tree do not rot, but feed the plant in the best way for its correct development.

Irrigation of our papayas

The papaya tree is one of the plantations that require the least amount of water, and the frequency of irrigation of our papayas is between 5 and 10 days.. Too much water can lead to root rot, which can lead to poor quality fruit or lack of fruit.

In La Huerta de Pancha we are attentive to our crops, so our professionals know perfectly when it is the right time to water the different plants in order to obtain the best fruits.

How you will receive the papayas from Pancha’s Orchard

Our papayas are harvested at their optimum point. The optimum point of harvesting does not coincide exactly with the optimum point of ripeness for consumption; they are harvested a little greener. Moreover, not all papayas, even if harvested on the same day, ripen simultaneously, as it depends on many factors. For this reason, sometimes it is necessary to wait a few days after receiving the order for some pieces to be consumed when ripe. A trick to know if they are ripe is to go by colour (they will turn yellow) and touch (if you press with your finger and it sinks in slightly).

We use 100% recyclable cardboard boxes for packaging and we always try to ensure that the papayas are well protected to avoid damage during transport.

How to preserve papayas

Conservation depends on the ripening of the fruit, so if you want to keep it refrigerated, you must wait until the ripening reaches the desired point. This way you can keep it fresh and with all its nutrients. When it is ripe and you have already eaten a piece of the fruit, cover it with cling film and store it in the refrigerator.

The best way is to place it with the cut side down. This protects the fruit from the humidity of the refrigerator.

Papaya can last up to eight days in perfect condition, maintaining its freshness, texture, flavour and nutrients.

How papayas are eaten

There are a multitude of recipes to make the most of the nutrients and benefits of papaya. However, the preferred option for most people is to drink it plain.

The first step is to put it in the fridge for a few hours to keep it nice and cool. Once fresh, cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds inside with a soup spoon. To remove the bitter taste left by the seeds, we recommend washing both halves in cold water. Finally, extract the pulp. You can also use a soup spoon, as we usually do with avocado, or cut it into squares, as with mango.

It is perfect as a dessert or to make a delicious and refreshing juice.

Properties of our papayas at Huerta de Pancha

Papaya is considered one of the superfoods, due to its nutritional properties.. It is a fruit composed of water – 88% – and fibre.

It is a fruit rich in vitamin CWith just half a papaya, almost double the daily requirement of this vitamin is covered. Other vitamins contained in the papaya are some of the B, E and K, folic acid and some important minerals such as potassium, which is also present in large quantities.

In addition, its composition includes soluble fibre, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, alpha linolenic acid, alkaloids that regulate blood pressure, phenols and lycopene, which has an antioxidant action.