Native to Central America, papayas have long held the appreciation of Latin American Indians. The fruit was originally brought back by Portuguese and Spanish explorers from faraway lands including the Philippines and India. This tropical fruit was reputably christened the fruit of the angels by Christopher Columbus. He and his party once ate so much food and had such severe stomach aches that natives took them into the forest and gave them papaya to soothe their indigestion. What's more, it isn't just Columbus who held the papaya in such high esteem either. Mexico and Costa Rican natives call the papaya tree, the tree of good health. Today, the largest producers of papaya include the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico, and each year, in September we celebrate this tropical fruit with National Papaya Month. National Papaya Month is an excellent opportunity to discover how to incorporate this fantastic fruit into your daily diet. Not only is papaya perfect for sweets and dessert recipes but also it's ideal for appetizers and main courses too. Choose from our great collection of recipes which include soups, salads, pizza, pasta, curries, pies, puddings, and tarts and discover the fruit of the angels.