diff --git a/zcash_primitives/src/note_encryption.rs b/zcash_primitives/src/note_encryption.rs
index ab9cac286..be24178c2 100644
--- a/zcash_primitives/src/note_encryption.rs
+++ b/zcash_primitives/src/note_encryption.rs
@@ -12,14 +12,49 @@ use sapling_crypto::{
     },
     primitives::{Diversifier, Note, PaymentAddress},
 };
+use std::fmt;
+use std::str;
 
 use crate::{keys::OutgoingViewingKey, JUBJUB};
 
 pub const KDF_SAPLING_PERSONALIZATION: &'static [u8; 16] = b"Zcash_SaplingKDF";
 pub const PRF_OCK_PERSONALIZATION: &'static [u8; 16] = b"Zcash_Derive_ock";
 
+/// Format a byte array as a colon-delimited hex string.
+///
+/// Source: https://github.com/tendermint/signatory
+/// License: MIT / Apache 2.0
+fn fmt_colon_delimited_hex<B>(f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>, bytes: B) -> fmt::Result
+where
+    B: AsRef<[u8]>,
+{
+    let len = bytes.as_ref().len();
+
+    for (i, byte) in bytes.as_ref().iter().enumerate() {
+        write!(f, "{:02x}", byte)?;
+
+        if i != len - 1 {
+            write!(f, ":")?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Memo([u8; 512]);
 
+impl fmt::Debug for Memo {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "Memo(")?;
+        match self.to_utf8() {
+            Some(Ok(memo)) => write!(f, "{}", memo)?,
+            _ => fmt_colon_delimited_hex(f, &self.0[..])?,
+        }
+        write!(f, ")")
+    }
+}
+
 impl Default for Memo {
     fn default() -> Self {
         // Empty memo field indication per ZIP 302
@@ -29,6 +64,58 @@ impl Default for Memo {
     }
 }
 
+impl PartialEq for Memo {
+    fn eq(&self, rhs: &Memo) -> bool {
+        &self.0[..] == &rhs.0[..]
+    }
+}
+
+impl Memo {
+    /// Returns a Memo containing the given slice, appending with zero bytes if necessary,
+    /// or None if the slice is too long. If the slice is empty, Memo::default() is
+    /// returned.
+    pub fn from_bytes(memo: &[u8]) -> Option<Memo> {
+        if memo.is_empty() {
+            Some(Memo::default())
+        } else if memo.len() <= 512 {
+            let mut data = [0; 512];
+            data[0..memo.len()].copy_from_slice(memo);
+            Some(Memo(data))
+        } else {
+            // memo is too long
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a Memo containing the given string, or None if the string is too long.
+    pub fn from_str(memo: &str) -> Option<Memo> {
+        Memo::from_bytes(memo.as_bytes())
+    }
+
+    pub fn as_bytes(&self) -> &[u8] {
+        &self.0[..]
+    }
+
+    /// Returns:
+    /// - None if the memo is not text
+    /// - Some(Ok(memo)) if the memo contains a valid UTF8 string
+    /// - Some(Err(e)) if the memo contains invalid UTF8
+    pub fn to_utf8(&self) -> Option<Result<String, str::Utf8Error>> {
+        // Check if it is a text or binary memo
+        if self.0[0] < 0xF5 {
+            // Drop trailing zeroes
+            let mut data = &self.0[..];
+            while let Some((0, next)) = data.split_last() {
+                data = next;
+            }
+            // Check if it is valid UTF8
+            Some(str::from_utf8(data).map(|memo| memo.to_owned()))
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 fn generate_esk() -> Fs {
     // create random 64 byte buffer
     let mut rng = OsRng::new().expect("should be able to construct RNG");
@@ -359,6 +446,120 @@ mod tests {
     };
     use crate::{keys::OutgoingViewingKey, JUBJUB};
 
+    #[test]
+    fn memo_from_str() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            Memo::from_str("").unwrap(),
+            Memo([
+                0xf6, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
+            ])
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            Memo::from_str(
+                "thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis \
+                 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis \
+                 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa \
+                 veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy \
+                 looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong \
+                 meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo \
+                 but it's just short enough"
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+            Memo([
+                0x74, 0x68, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x73, 0x20, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69,
+                0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x69, 0x73, 0x20, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61,
+                0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x61, 0x20, 0x76, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x72, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79,
+                0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79, 0x79,
+                0x79, 0x20, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x20, 0x6d,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65,
+                0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x65, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f,
+                0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x20, 0x62, 0x75, 0x74, 0x20,
+                0x69, 0x74, 0x27, 0x73, 0x20, 0x6a, 0x75, 0x73, 0x74, 0x20, 0x73, 0x68, 0x6f, 0x72,
+                0x74, 0x20, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x75, 0x67, 0x68
+            ])
+        );
+        assert!(Memo::from_str(
+            "thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis \
+             iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis \
+             aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa \
+             veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy \
+             looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong \
+             meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo \
+             but it's now a bit too long"
+        )
+        .is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn memo_to_utf8() {
+        let memo = Memo::from_str("Test memo").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(memo.to_utf8(), Some(Ok("Test memo".to_owned())));
+        assert_eq!(Memo::default().to_utf8(), None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_vectors() {
         let test_vectors = crate::test_vectors::note_encryption::make_test_vectors();