Pawpaw

"Pawpaw" is a name used for both papaws and papayas (shown here).

This name is used to refer to both papayas and papaws, though they are entirely different fruits. Papayas are large, pear-shaped and golden-yellow with juicy, sweet-tart flesh. Papaws, members of the cherimoya family, look more like fat, brown bananas. Their flesh is sweet, custard-like and peppered with seeds. They are rarely cultivated or sold in markets. Both fruits are native to North America.