National Pawpaw Day, held every third Thursday in September, celebrates the tropical-looking fruit native to North America which tastes like a cross between mango, banana, and sometimes other fruits. With over 60 varieties and a unique, creamy texture, it’s a wonder that more people don’t know about the pawpaw.
Also known as the Kentucky Banana and Hillbilly mango, the pawpaw grows all across the South and is the largest fruit native to the United States. Although we don’t see it on store shelves much today, the pawpaw was an important part of traditional Native American diets and is used for various purposes today.
History of National Pawpaw Day
Before Europeans arrived in North America, Native American groups from Florida to the Midwest used the pawpaw in a myriad of ways. The Iroquois made small cakes or fruit jerky from it, and other groups like the Osage and Algonquin also included it in their diets. The versatile fruit can be eaten raw or cooked into breads and sweets. It can grow to about 6 inches and has a uniquely custard-like, creamy texture, strong fragrance, and notably sweet flavor reminiscent of mangos and bananas.
The Spanish became aware of it during Hernando de Soto’s 1540 expedition. A favorite of the Founding Fathers, it was supposedly George Washington’s favorite dessert and cultivated by Thomas Jefferson, who shipped pawpaw seeds to France during his time there. Later on, Lewis and Clark wrote of subsisting on pawpaws when they ran out of other food while on their expedition charting the American West. During the Great Depression, the pawpaw became a popular substitute for other, more scarce fruit, leading to a new nickname, the “poor man’s banana.”
After the end of World War II, the introduction of other exotic fruits led to a decline in popularity for the pawpaw, whose short shelf life makes it difficult to store in large supermarkets. Today, it can be found mostly in farmers’ markets, and is still prized for its unusual texture and sweetness. Each September, Ohioans celebrate the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, where attendees can sample different pawpaw preparations, enter contests and cookoffs, and celebrate this uniquely American fruit.
While many people have never tasted the sweet, custard-like fruit, National Pawpaw Day sets out to change that. This seasonal fruit enjoys a peak harvest time from late August through the first frost. Given that markets and festivals across the country offer samples, there’s ample opportunity to savor the taste of pawpaw!