Fun Fact #391 Washington's Pawpaws

 Fun Fact #391

Washington’s Pawpaws

Having heard of the Pawpaws from Daniel Boone, General George Washington took a fast liking to the fruit. Its unique taste was wonderful but more importantly it’s texture, for ripe Pawpaws have a fruit consistency similar to that of Custard. What he became known for doing with them was to put them in nets then drop them into a river or lake for a few hours letting them cool and bloat from the extra water they absorbed. Then they could be retrieved, the fruit cut open and enjoyed with a spoon. 

President Washington would later plant Pawpaws both at his Mt. Vernon estate, and the White house while it was still under construction although they wouldn’t start flowering until the White house was completed during John Adams’ time as the President. Today Washington’s pawpaws are still grown and can be enjoyed at the Mt. Vernon estate, but the ones at The White House were cut down during the Nixon administration.