The papaya is a small, sparse tree native to Mexico and Venezuela with leaves arranged in spirals and confined to the top of the trunk. The plant comes in three sexes: male, female, and intersex; most Papaya orchards use intersex trees for the quality of their fruits.

Papaya fruit is more than simply a sweet treat. It has been used to tenderise meat for thousands of years as the enzyme papain in the fruit breaks down muscle fibres—this enzyme is higher in unripe fruit and is considered unsafe to eat. In traditional treatment for malaria, it is used as an abortion aid, as a laxative, and is smoked to relieve asthma. Papaya oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant. The oil is used in the beauty industry for skin, hair, and nail benefits—especially for anti-wrinkle benefits.

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