Making Pawpaw Jam

The pawpaw is usually eaten fresh, either alone or in a fruit salad. The ripe fruit is very perishable and the pawpaw jam therefore provides an innovative and cheap way to preserve the fruit. This type of jam can be for home use but it can also be sold to friends and neigbours.

Below is a simple to make method of making the pawpaw jam:

Ingredients

• 3-4 ripe paw paws
• A cup of sugar
• Lemon or lime to add flavor 

Method

• Peel the pawpaw and cut into small pieces
• Remove the seeds
• Skin the lemon/lime and remove the rind and seeds
• Mash the pawpaw until it turns into a jelly like liquid form then mix with the lemon or lime
• Measure one cup of the liquid and mix with half a cup of sugar will stirring.
• Put the mixture on the fire and stir while the mixture boils
• Cook the mixture for about half an hour on low heat
• Put in warm jars and cover tightly 

NB: To check whether the jam is ready, Scoop a spoonful of the mixture and drop in a glass of water, if the drop sinks it is ready, if it does not then it is not ready. So continue cooking until it is ready.

The jam can be well packed in glass bottles and sold to gain income.

This article has been contributed by Teddy Chenya of Sombeza CKC in Mariakani, Mombasa.