Pawpaw Varieties

JustPeachy · 2020-10-30T02:45:28.461Z

I just starting on my frozen pawpaws. First time I tried frozen pawpaws without them being in some sort of processed form like ice cream.

I was advised to separately bag each cultivar type and at minimum scoop the flesh out of the skin before freezing. I’m not sure if it’s just the fact I know I am eating frozen pawpaws, but the flavor tastes slightly different to me. Is that normal?

Vid · 2020-10-31T00:04:37.115Z

Summer delight, Kentucky Champion and Halvin should be the earliest of the varieties I’m aware of. VE-21 is an early one as well.

Vid · 2020-10-31T00:53:34.802Z

The freestones are tasty. They have a lot of melon flavor.

Bradybb · 2020-11-30T05:14:38.116Z

Since this thread is about Pawpaw varieties, here is a nursery in the UK,that has many,some I’ve heard of,but quite a few new to me.
It looks like they have connections to US growers and should be a key source there and possibly for Europe.

Hillbilly Pawpaws

Pawpaws and Persimmons | Hillbilly Pawpaws | United Kingdom

UK's first Pawpaw farm, Hillbilly Pawpaws specialises in Asimina Triloba Pawpaw trees and Persimmon Trees. We have specialiaty fruit trees that are proven in the UK climate. Our stock originated from world class beaders throughout the world. Breeders...

BlueBerry · 2020-11-30T06:24:16.785Z

Sounds a little ‘full of himself’…I know a wildflower nursery in West Virginia like that.

JustPeachy · 2020-12-09T03:40:35.992Z

Ok, now that I’ve eaten more frozen pawpaws, I’m convinced the astringency and bitterness that’s often in the background when fresh moves to the forefront when frozen. Anyone else have this experience? I’m not crazy am I? (Well I sometimes am… , but I mean about this phenolic flavors becoming more pronounced when pawpaws are frozen.)

Some of the pawpaws I consider “medium strength” I don’t have much of an appetite for as frozen, even though I enjoy them to varying degrees when fresh.

TrilobaTracker · 2020-12-30T21:54:17.925Z

hambone:

KSU Chappelle- Eager to taste it as Cliff England (nurseryman, friend of Jerry Lehman’s) raves about it.

I was very impressed by Chappell when i tried it. Firm texture, distinct pineapple flavor, no off-flavors or bitterness.
It was just one bite of one fruit but it’s the best bite of pawpaw I’ve had.

Unfortunately KSU says it may be prone to phyllosticta (i.e. more than other varieties).
Though, I’ve not had any problems with mine so far after 2 years in the ground. It’s not bearing yet.

TrilobaTracker · 2020-12-30T22:59:21.411Z

JustPeachy:

I need to disclose that pawpaws would not be the first fruit in my mind if you told me that I was only allowed to grow one type of fruit. I like them in occasional doses, but there are other fruits that I would prefer if I was stranded in the middle of a temperate deciduous forest/island.

I have to admit I feel exactly the same way despite the fact that I am somewhat obsessed with this species.
Its not purely about the eating experience. There’s a mystique about this tree and fruit that just makes it alluring.
The tree is beautiful (IMO), it’s native, it’s got quirky characteristics, weird, mesmerizing, yeasty flowers, and fruits that are cute/strange/ugly/intoxicatingly perfumed/ironically tropical/flavor-shifting…

So yeah, lots to love!

But for pure eating bliss, and something I could gorge on, I would go with mango, jackfruit, lychee, peaches, plums, durian (limited gorging potential), etc.