Durian, the foul smelling sweet fruit

Jul 01, 2011

“The durian’s smell is its outstanding feature – it is pungent, a bit like a clogged drain or rotten eggs”. Financial Express

“The durian’s smell is its outstanding feature – it is pungent, a bit like a clogged drain or rotten eggs”. Financial Express

“It has been likened to rotting onions, unwashed socks and even carrion in custard, but the most accurate description by far is that of a sewer full of rotting pineapples”. BBC

The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio of the Malvaceae family. It is widely grown in Southern Asia and in most of the tropics.

It is called the “king of fruits” because of its distinctive large size, and unique odour. Somewhat similar to the jackfruit, it has a formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30cm long and 15cm in diameter, and weighs one to three kilogrammes. Its shape ranges from oblong to round.

The fruit comes in a variey of colours but the most distinct are husk green to brown or flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

The tree grows to a height of 25-50 metres depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as a fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive.

The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit’s banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia.

The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and it is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet dishes. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.

Durian trees have one or two flowering and fruiting periods annually though the timing varies depending on the species, cultivars, and localities. A typical durian tree can bear fruit after four or five years.

The durian fruit can hang from any branch of the tree and matures at roughly three months after pollination occurs.

Durian is a seasonal fruit, unlike some other non-seasonal tropical fruits such as the papaya, which are available throughout the year.

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