Papaya Seed Oil
By: Anonymous

About

The papaya oil is extracted from the papaya fruit seeds (also known as paw paw) and it is rich in nourishing omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids. It's fatty acid content is comparable to those traditionally found in olive oil. Papaya seed oil has been used throughout the ages in India, the UK and other global regions for treatment of skin conditions such as rashes and dry skin, and has both anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

Information
Other names: Carica Papaya
Translations: Papaija Seed Oil, Papajos sėklų aliejus, Papaya Ulei de seminţe de, Dầu hạt giống đu đủ, Olej z nasion Papaya, पपीता के बीज का तेल, Óleo de semente de mamão, Папайя Масла семян, Παπάγια σπορέλαιο, زيت بذور البابايا, 파파야 씨 오일, Papája olej, Minyak Biji Pepaya, Papaya Buto Oil, 木瓜籽油, Oli de llavor de papaia, Papaja Seed Oil, Papája olej, Olio di Semi di Papaya, פפאיה שמן זרעי, Папаиа Оил, パパイヤシードオイル, Huile de graines de papaye, Papaya-Samen-Öl, Aceite de semilla de papaya, Папайя Масла насіння, Папая масло


Physical Description
A soft and smooth oil that is considered on the "heavy" and emollient side. It is an excellent additive for blended massage oils as it helps to stop trans-epidermal water loss. It has a pleasant somewhat fruity smell.
Colors: Slightly orange in color


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Sweet, can have a hint of a peppery taste.
Mouthfeel: Similar to a medium weight olive oil.
Substitutes: Olive oil


Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Choosing: Choose only oils that are are non-cloudy in appearance and do not have a rancid odor.
Buying: Papaya seed oil can be found in a variety of health food stores as well as assorted online venues. Due to the type of extraction process necessary, it is not usually found at local farmers' markets within North America or the UK.
Procuring: Seeds that will eventually be turned into a cold-pressed oil are produced in the Ukambani region of Kenya, Africa in small batches by local farmers. Regions in Mexico and India also produce papaya seeds for cold-press oil production.


Preparation and Use
Cold press extraction is the process used to get the oil from the dried papaya seeds.  This oil is high in emollients and used in health and beauty products such as massage and bath oils.


Conserving and Storing
Papaya seed oil generally is packaged for consumers in glass or plastic bottles and can be stored in a cool dry place (away from the heat of a stove or oven). When stored correctly, this oil has a 2-3 year shelf life.


Social/Political

History: Historically, papaya seed oil has been used in Africa and India as well as tropical regions throughout the world, in both paste and oil form as a natural treatment for a variety of skin conditions. It's origin has been traced back to the Mesopotamian era.