Soft, luscious, and bursting with tropical sweetness, Papaya — known as Papita in Hindi, Pappali Pazham in Tamil, and Boppayi Pandu in Telugu — is one of nature's most nutritious fruits. Rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and the powerful digestive enzyme papain, it's as good for your gut as it is delicious. We deliver papaya semi-ripe so it ripens naturally at home for the best flavour and texture. Browse our full range in Fresh Fruits or explore all our fresh produce in Fresh Foods.
For a classic Papaya Chaat, slice ripe papaya and toss with lime juice, chaat masala, and chilli for a refreshing Indian street-food snack. Papaya is also excellent blended into tropical smoothies with mango and coconut milk, served simply sliced with a squeeze of lime, or used in a Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum style) when unripe and firm. In Indian cooking, raw papaya is used as a meat tenderiser in marinades and in Kacha Papaya Sabzi.
Keep unripe papaya at room temperature until it yields slightly to gentle pressure and turns yellow-orange — usually 2–4 days. Once ripe, refrigerate and consume within 2–3 days. Cut papaya should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and used within 2 days.
Q: Is the papaya ripe when delivered?
A: We deliver papayas semi-ripe so they stay fresh during transit and ripen naturally at home. Leave at room temperature for 2–4 days until the skin turns yellow-orange and the flesh yields to gentle pressure.
Q: Can I eat papaya seeds?
A: Yes — papaya seeds are edible and have a slightly peppery, bitter flavour. They are often discarded but can be dried and used as a black pepper substitute or blended into dressings.
Q: Can I use unripe green papaya in cooking?
A: Absolutely — firm, unripe papaya is used in South Asian and Southeast Asian cooking, including green papaya salads, sabzis, and as a natural meat tenderiser in marinades.