Papaya is a delicious tropical fruit with a soft, juicy orange flesh and sweet flavor. This popular fruit originated in southern Mexico and Central America and is now enjoyed all around the world.
If you love the taste of papaya, you may be looking for other fruits that offer a similar sweetness and texture when ripe. Several fruits share common qualities with papaya in terms of flavor, texture, appearance, and nutrition.
Here are 12 juicy fruits to try if you enjoy papaya:
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1. Mango
Mangoes are one of the most popular fruits that have an appearance and taste comparable to papaya. They feature an oblong shape, orange-yellow flesh, large central seed, and smooth, juicy texture when ripe.
The flavor of a ripe mango is sweet with notes of peach and pineapple. Mangoes contain over 20 different vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious choice. They’re an excellent source of vitamins A and C.
To pick a ripe mango, look for a fragrant fruit that yields slightly when gently squeezed. Mangoes pair well with other fruits in smoothies and salads. For a simple snack, enjoy fresh mango chunks on their own.
2. Guava
Guava is an oval shaped tropical fruit with edible seeds and pale yellow or pink flesh. When ripe, guavas have a fragrant, floral aroma and sweet, tart taste similar to papaya.
Guava contains beneficial antioxidants including lycopene and vitamins C, E, and A. This nutrient-dense fruit can boost immunity and heart health.
Select guavas that are tender to the touch but not mushy. Add guava to fruit salads, smoothies, or pair it with soft cheeses. The edible seeds give guava an interesting, crunchy texture.
3. Kiwi
At first glance, kiwifruit may not seem similar to papaya. But when sliced open, the bright green flesh, small black seeds, and sweet-tart taste of ripe kiwi mirrors papaya.
Kiwis offer an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, folate, and potassium. They contain antioxidant compounds that can help reduce inflammation and promote heart health.
Choose plump, fuzzy kiwis that yield to gentle pressure. Enjoy kiwis sliced or scooped with a spoon for a refreshing snack or dessert. The black seeds are edible, adding a fun crunch.
4. Cherimoya
Often called a custard apple, cherimoya is an exotic fruit native to South America. Green on the outside, the inner flesh is creamy white with large, edible black seeds, much like papaya.
When ripe, cherimoya has a sweet, fruity flavor with hints of banana, mango, and pineapple. The velvety texture melts in your mouth. Cherimoya is packed with vitamin C, vitamin B6, and antioxidants.
Pick cherimoya that gives slightly when pressed but isn’t mushy. Simply scoop out the flesh and enjoy as-is or blended into smoothies. The flesh also works well in fruit salads, parfaits, and sorbets.
5. Sapodilla
The sapodilla fruit is a tasty, underrated tropical treat. These round, brown fruits have a soft, sweet interior flesh reminiscent of ripe papaya.
When ripe, sapodillas become extremely soft with a custard-like texture and rich, sweet flavor. Unripe sapodillas have a grainy, crunchy texture.
Sapodilla contains high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B5, iron, and magnesium. It has natural sedative properties that can aid sleep.
Allow sapodillas to fully ripen until they feel soft. Simply slice open and eat the flesh raw or add it to smoothies. You can also use sapodilla in jams, ice cream, and milkshakes.
6. Cantaloupe Melon
Juicy, sweet cantaloupe is one of the most papaya-like melons you can eat. The soft orange flesh is smooth and supple with a signature sweet, musky aroma when ripe.
Cantaloupes offer an excellent source of vitamins A and C as well as potassium. The beta-carotene content is linked to healthy skin, eyes, and immune function.
When selecting cantaloupe, choose a fruit with a subtle, sweet smell and a stem end that gives slightly. Enjoy fresh cantaloupe chunks on their own or in fruit salads and smoothies. The melon also works well in salsas.
7. Peach
Although they have very different skins, peaches and papayas share a similar texture and sweet, tropical taste when fully ripe.
Peaches contain impressive amounts of vitamins C and A, potassium, niacin, and antioxidants. Eating peaches is linked to heart health, skin health, digestive health, and stabilized blood sugar levels.
Look for peaches that yield to gentle pressure when ripe. The skin tone can range from creamy yellow to orange-red. Eat peaches raw, baked into desserts, grilled, or blended into smoothies.
8. Pineapple
Pineapples are a nutritious tropical fruit packed with vitamin C, manganese, and bromelain. The juicy, vibrant yellow interior has a tangy sweet flavor when ripe.
Pineapples share papaya’s smooth, tender texture that almost dissolves on your tongue. Enjoy pineapple chunks raw, grilled, or blended into tropical smoothies and salsas.
Choose pineapples that smell fragrant and sweet. The skin should give slightly when pressed. Bromelain offers anti-inflammatory effects that can boost immunity and heal injuries faster.
9. Persimmon
Though smaller than papaya, ripe persimmons can offer a similar taste and texture. These colorful fruits turn from firm to extremely soft and juicy when ripe.
Persimmons provide antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, lycopene, and zeaxanthin. They can help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.
Wait until persimmons are very soft and sweet before eating them. Scoop out the flesh and mash it into a pulp for baking, add it to yogurt and smoothies, or eat it raw with a spoon.
10. Passion Fruit
Passion fruits come in a variety of colors from yellow to purple. The most common type is the yellow fruit, which has a thin skin and bright orange-yellow center. Inside the center are hundreds of tiny black seeds covered in jelly-like pulp. This pulp tastes sweet and tart with an intense tropical flavor reminiscent of mango, pineapple, and banana.
Passion fruits are a good source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. Eating this fruit is linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved heart health.
Enjoy passion fruit raw or add it to smoothies, salads, and desserts. When selecting passion fruits, choose those that feel heavy for their size and have very fragrant aromas.
11. Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a type of winter squash featuring a bright orange flesh and an elongated, curved shape. It has a smooth, sweet flavor reminiscent of pumpkin that pairs well with seasonings like nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
Butternut squash is rich in essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, beta-carotene , vitamin C, potassium, and folate. Eating butternut squash is linked to improved heart health, eye health, and digestion.
To select the best butternut squash, look for those with a golden-orange hue and no blemishes on the skin. Enjoy roasted or steamed chunks of butternut squash as a side dish or blend into smoothies and soups.
12. Star Fruit
Also called carambola, star fruit has a juicy, crunchy texture similar to ripe papaya. When sliced, it forms a star shape with sweet, glistening flesh.
Starfruit contains polyphenol antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, and flavonoids. It has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can boost immunity.
Choose plump, brightly colored star fruit with smooth, unwrinkled skin. Add fresh slices to fruit salads and platters or juice it for a refreshing drink. Starfruit also works nicely in sorbets and cocktails.
Satisfy Your Taste Buds with Papaya-Like Fruits
If you love the sweet, juicy flesh of ripe papaya, try incorporating more of these similar fruits into your diet. Mangoes, guava, kiwifruit, and melons like cantaloupe offer comparable textures and flavors.
Exotic finds like cherimoya, sapodilla, and star fruit also share qualities with papaya. Branch out and experiment with new ways to enjoy these nutritious fruits raw, blended in smoothies, or baked into desserts.
With so many delicious options, you’ll never get bored satisfying your cravings for fruits reminiscent of ripe papaya. Which papaya-like fruit will you try next?
