The paw paw has the largest fruit of any native tree in the United States. Learn how to identify this tree and when you should go looking for the paw paw fruit. For most people paw paw is the best food that they have never eaten. Find out what parts of the paw paw you want to eat and those to leave alone. Spoiler alert! Do not eat the seeds they will make you throw up.
Our sources for this episode include:
- Paw Paw In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit by Andrew Moore
- Picking up Paw Paws
- What is Paw Paw?
- America’s Forgotten Fruit Tree: The Appalachian Banana | Appalachian Magazine
- Paw Paws, A Uniquely American Fruit by Earthy Delights
- Paw Paws: America’s Best Secret Fruit by Serious Eats
Thank you for this
I also learned the paw-paw song when I was a kid. I passed it on to my kids. The version I learned had the word “basket” instead of “pocket”.
I wonder if the two versions were predominant in different geographical parts of the world (North America). I grew up in Central Ohio. Other listeners?