The papaya is a fruit of the tree. It is a small tree, the single stem growing from 5 to 10 m tall, with spirally set leaves confined to the top of the trunk, the lower trunk is obviously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm width, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is typically unbranched if unlopped. The flowers are similar in shape to the flowers of the Plumeria but are much slighter and wax like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into the large 15-45 cm long and 10-30 cm diameter fruit. The fruit is ripe when it feels soft and its skin has attained amber to orange hue. The fruit's taste is vaguely similar to pineapple and peach, although much milder without the tartness, creamier, and more fragrant, with a texture of a little over-ripened cantaloupe.

The primary use of the papaya is as an safe to eat fruit. The ripe fruit is generally eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The unripe green fruit of papaya can be eaten ripe, usually in curries, salads and stews.