The papaya (Carica papaya) is a small tropical tree with a straight stem marked by scars where leaves have fallen directly from it. Papayas do not have branches. The papaya fruit is pear-shaped with a bright golden-yellow skin. The flesh of the fruit is a brighter orange-yellow, juicy and silky smooth, with a sweet and sour flavor. The shiny gray or black seeds in the interior of the fruit have a peppery taste and are edible, although they are usually discarded. The papaya is an extraordinarily useful plant. In the tropics around the world papaya is the breakfast fruit, served either green or ripe. The juice is a popular beverage, and the leaves and young stems are steamed and served as a vegetable. The fruit yields an enzyme, papain, most commonly used to “clear” freshly brewed beer. The latex is used as a freckle remover. The leaves have been used as a substitute for soap.