I have eaten these as a child and within the last year or two, as well. The first ones I ate were given to me by my grandparents. We were walking through the hills near my home, and at that time there were some paw-paw trees growing there. They gathered some of the fruit and gave me some to eat. I think they taste good, but you have to get them at just the right stage or they taste bitter and bad. If you get them at the right phase, though, they are mellow and sweet, and I find them pleasant.