Papaya latex is the thick, milky-white sap obtained mainly from the skin of a green, unripe papaya fruit.
It contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme used for:
* Tenderising meat
* Manufacturing digestive-enzyme products
* Clarifying beverages
* Producing some cosmetics and pharmaceutical products
* Treating leather and processing food
The latex is normally collected by making shallow cuts on mature green fruits while they remain attached to the tree, then collecting and carefully drying the sap.