Juice the oranges first and measure out 2 cups, then keep the juice nearby for blending. The fresh juice should taste bright and sweet, with enough body to carry the fruit.

If your papaya is not already prepped, peel it, split it open, scoop out the seeds, and cut the flesh into chunks before adding it to the blender with the banana and orange juice. The blender jar should look mostly orange and creamy even before blending starts.

Blend on low speed to break up the fruit, then increase to high and blend until completely smooth. The shake should look vibrant and uniform, with a velvety texture and no icy chunks or bits of fruit.

Add a squirt of lime if you want a brighter finish, then pulse briefly to combine. You should notice a slightly fresher citrus aroma without losing the papaya flavor.

Pour over crushed ice if using, or chill the shake and serve cold. The final texture should be thick but pourable, cool, and very smooth.