Mapopo

Sweet tooth foods aren't as common in Zimbabwe as they are in Europe or the United States, but biscuits are a popular stomach filler for both children and adults. Mapopo is a much more traditional and wholesome treat.

Paw paw (papaya) and refined sugar are combined to make mapopo, a sweet or candy. Pieces of the ripe orange-fleshed fruit are coated with a generous amount of sugar in a pan. The mixture is swirled as it is slowly heated until the sugar crystallizes around the fruit pieces, resulting in Zimbabwe's version of fruit gum. Simply delectable!