Adjusting for taste is important, says Sheri Crabtree, a horticulture research and extension associate at KYSU, because some wild pawpaw can have bitter or other “off” flavors; they can be “turpentine-y or just bland,” she says. “We would like to have some more unique flavors among cultivars, like some varieties have a more pronounced melon, coconut, or pineapple flavor.”
Taking five or more years to grow and bear fruit does make for a significant challenge for commercial production.
But it seems to grow well in the Eastern US and as far north as Michigan.
That was very helpful, thank you! Now I need to go check around in the woods behind my house, because I do have many of the varieties of trees that were mentioned.
I’ve never had a pawpaw, but have been very interested in tasting them since this time a year ago.
Neat video! I’m in Northern Illinois, just out of growing range for Paw Paws, but not by much. In fact south of me there is a small town- Paw Paw, Illinois.
Gee, I wonder how they got that name?
I’m eager to try some, sometime.