Papaya Leaves – Herb

Brew & Taste

The infusion of papaya leaves is dark yellow in color. The aroma is very faint, a little like freshly dried hay. The taste can be described as mild, sweetish, slightly bitter towards the end.

Origins

During the times of Christopher Columbus, papaya fruit gained the nickname 'fruit of the angels'. It should be said that, before the Spanish and Portuguese sailors, this sweet fruit reminiscent of pears was already familiar to the local Native Americans. In this case, however, we won't be elaborating on the yellow-pulped papaya with thousands of tiny seeds – we're more interested in its leaves.

The papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical plant native to Central America. Today, it can be found in nearly all tropical regions of the world – from India through Southeast Asia to Africa and South America. In the wild, it resembles a slender tree rather than an herb. It grows up to 10 meters tall, has a hollow, soft stem resembling a trunk, and a rosette of large leaves grows at its top.

Papaya leaves are particularly interesting, both botanically and visually. They can measure up to 75 centimeters, and their deeply lobed shape resembles an open human hand. They're a rich green color, with prominent veins and long petioles. In tropical regions, young leaves are primarily harvested, as they have a milder flavor. In some cuisines, they're even used as a vegetable – added to soups and curries or sautéed much like spinach.

However, papaya leaves are valued above all for their exceptionally rich spectrum of bioactive compounds, which are the subject of numerous studies.

Papaya leaves contain, for example:

• the enzyme papain,
• flavonoids,
• alkaloids (such as carpain),
• phenolic compounds,
• vitamins A, C, and E,
• minerals (especially calcium,
• magnesium, and iron)

Health benefits include:

• fat breakdown
• natural immune support,
• normal digestion.

It is precisely this combination that makes papaya leaves a remarkable ingredient, one that is gradually finding its way into the world of teas and herbal infusions. And they're certainly just as worthy of attention as their famous tropical fruits.

Herb packaging preview

We pack our herbs in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. Thanks to the hermetic seal, the herbs are protected against humidity, light and foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew and the herb itself.