Otherwise known as the "Smelliest Fruit In the World"
I was perusing my local asian store this past weekend when I saw them...FRESH DURIAN.
It was perfect timing.
It had been ages since I had eaten durian, and most importantly, I was the ONLY ONE home that day.
This was EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, since I knew I had to do this before anyone would get home and complain about the smell (well, until they went to the garbage can) ...even after wrapping it with plastic bags and a cardboard box...
As anyone can relate to living with non-durian loving people in the house, it's virtually impossible to hide that distinctive durian smell.
As I pried open the deliciously creamy pods from the dangerously spiky husks, I contemplated its controversial nature .
Durian.
The King of Fruits.
You either LOVE it or HATE it!
I LOVE it.
But honestly, it took me about 5-6 tries (all of which consisted of me running away) before I learned to love it!
What is Durian?
- For all those who aren't familiar with durian, basically, it's a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, (such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)
- (although some say that it can now grow in Hawaii)
- The fruit is covered in extremely spiky thorns (yes, really, they do hurt! I can't handle them without gloves),
- Weighs 2-7 lbs
- Inside the fruit are sections with oblong-shaped creamy yellow "pods"
- Creamy buttery texture with a seed at the center of each pod
- Often should be paired with a "cooling" fruit such as mangosteen, coconut water, (or even drinking durian shells filled with water) since durian is a "heating fruit".
- It is also PROHIBITED in many hotels AND mass transportation in southeast Asia (for example: Singapore)
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
The Smell of Durian
What is unique about durian is that the same fruit can smell EXTREMELY different to different people.
When I smell and taste durian, I describe it as "sweet, buttery creamy, slightly garlicky/oniony with a slightly alcoholic undertone".
Yet, others describe it as a combination of "roasted rotting onion, sulfur, sewage, fruit and honey"...
"It tastes like completely rotten mushrooms" - Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods)
"Like eating raspberry blancmange in the lavatory" – Anthony Burgess, author
"Its odour is best described as pig shit, turpentine and onions garnished with a dirty gym sock" – Richard Sterling, food writer
"Your breath will smell as if you’ve been french kissing your dead grandmother" – Anthony Bourdain, chef and TV host
(credit: The Guardian)
Really, I don't get that...
The Hidden Truth Behind Durian
OK, I admit it. Durian is a fruit that grows on you.
It's like a real world example of Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover (Or Smell).
In fact, I would venture to say that out of us kids who had durian-loving families,
most of us ran away at the sight and smell of durian at first, and then started to creep back,
and then eventually learn to love it.
But, WHY does durian smell so good to some and so bad to others?
That my friends, is because of its unique chemistry.
Under gas chromatography, a durian has 44 chemicals that produce strong distinctive aromas such as:
- fruity
- honey
- roasted onion
- sulfury onion
- caramel
- soup seasoning
- skunky
- sulfury, durian
- rotten, cabbage, onion, durian
(credit: Pub Med)
Basically durian has a combination of strong distinctive smells:
- Good smelling ESTERS (fruity, pineapple aroma) AND
- Bad smelling THIOLS (sulfur, cooked cabbage, onions)
Therefore, people who pick up on the good smells of durian (esters) find it enjoyable while people who pick up on the smelly smells of durian (thiols) don't like it.
(credit): David Wolfe
And, this likely explains why people can eventually change their minds about durian, and eventually love it...since they're able to pick up distinctively different smells.
Perhaps that's why it's so comforting to me to know that for a controversial fruit like durian, eventually, its haters (or, to be exact, those who fear its sulfurous qualities) can eventually (like me), become strong proponents of the beloved durian.
If you'd like to see some adventurous travelers describe their own durian experience, here are two of my favorite travel vloggers, Sheena and Thomas from Chasing a Plate:
I'd love to know...
- Have you tried durian before?
- What did you think?
- What did it taste like to you?
- Most importantly, how many times have you tried it before?
Thanks for reading!
Also be sure to check my last article by clicking the image below :)
