Tuesday 15 November 2011

DURIAN FRUIT





I have never tasted Durian fruit before. Don't know ..if I'd ever want to! I saw Durian fruit recently in a local hypermarket (see first picture on the top - thats the one I saw). It looks like a hedgehog on the outside with poky spines. The inside of the fruit is known to be yellowish with almond like seeds.  I always liked the way it looked from the outside, so different from the other fruits we are used to. It is believed that people consumed Durian  in southeastern Asia since pre historic times, but its known to the western world for about 600 years. What I found out about Durian is mix of good, strange and a bit shocking as well. Let me explain....

Okay, to begin with Durian is a native fruit of  Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. The good part is :

* Durian can give you a boost of good energy (like banana).
* Its high in dietary fibre.
* Rich source of Vitamin C
* Excellent source of several B Vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine(vitamin B-6) and thiamin (vitamin B-1)
* Contains good amount of minerals like manganese, copper, iron and magnesium
* Good source of potassium
* Its easten either slightly ripened or well ripened.
* It is used in milkshakes, icecreams, cakes, biscuits,
* Unripe durian can be eaten either cooked or roasted.

Now for the strange and shocking part: Let's see what many people had to say from their experience, especially those who are exposed to the so called 'King of Fruits'  for first time.

* Smells like urine
* Smells like a child's soiled nappy that has not been changed for a while
* If a durian fruit falls on a person's head from the tree, it can be fatal!
* A walk through the vegetable stalls in Singapore or Bangkok during Durian season would give you the feeling as if you are walking through some sewage. 
* English novelist Anthony Burgess once said that dining on durian is a lot like eating vanilla custard in a latrine.
* Smells like dead goat
* Smells like compost
* In Singapore there are signs on the subways saying "No Durian"
* The fruit stinks like gym socks
* It smells like vomit
* Horrible smell, but the taste is not horrible.
* Smells like turpentine
* If you eat too much of it, your body heats up

Oh...have you heard of this saying, 'Like a cucumber versus a durian'. (struggle between the weak and the strong. The strong, i.e. the durian) will always win.

Have you eaten Durian? If you haven't, would you try it out even if it smells..um..terrible?.


The Esplanade theatre in Singapore is called 'Durian' by the people, due to its Durian fruit like appearance.

DURIAN sculpture at Davao International Airport, Phillipines








3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"smells like hell but taste like HEaven"

I'm a Durian lover and i simply love the native durian from DAVAO...
our city is known to be the city of durian They say, “Once you have tasted durian, you will never leave Davao.”

HERE'S MORE ABOUT OUR PROUD CITY FRUIT!!..

http://www.lutongbahay.com/index.cfm?pagename=articles&opn=1&ArticleID=58

love ur blog as usual....

wisemummy81

KUWEIGHT64 said...

Thankyou...I think I ought to try out this fruit atleast once then!

Vasu said...

Nice article :)I have never tasted durian but I have a friend who used to live and work in Singapore, she has tasted it and found the aroma and flavor too overwhelming. However like you said Durians continue to be hated and loved but still remain very very popular. I think it is an acquired taste. If you decide to taste a Durian, do tell us about your experience :)