DURIAN—AKA “The King Of Fruit”
Durian has one of the most puzzling flavors known to man. The taste of Durian
depends on the type of durian it is, as well as it fresh it is, how soon it was
harvested, how old the tree was, and more. People who have tried Durian feel either extremely attracted to the fruit, or
extremely repelled by it. The exact flavor of Durian ranges from extremely sweet to very
savory.
The most common pleasant flavors people say Durian tastes like:
-Vanilla buttercream
-Strawberry shortcake
-Crème brulee
-Whipped cream
-Caramel cheesecake
-Buttered popcorn
-Raspberries
-Flan
-Root beer
The most common unpleasant flavors people say Durian tastes like:
-Farts
-Gasoline
-Body Odor
-Garlic
-Onion
Durian has such a strong scent that it’s banned in public areas of certain countries.
Same with the taste, the smell of Durian highly depends on the type of durian it is, as
well as it fresh it is and how soon it was harvested. The smell of Durian is generally
described as a stinky odor.
Durian has a (green/red/yellow/orange) tough and spiky skin, with a (yellow/orange/red) inside flesh that is generally very creamy and smooth. Some Durians are creamier than others, and some have more water than others. Certain types of Durian, like the most common ‘Monthong’ variety, have more consistent flavors and textures than others. Each pod of flesh surrounds one big seed, which is inedible raw but can be cooked to eat.
Durian is native to Southeast Asia—specifically Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Cambodia. Besides those countries, Durian also
can grow in Hawaii, Florida, Northern Australia, and Puerto Rico.
To eat Durian, cut open the thorny exterior and remove the flesh-filled pods to eat. There are several methods of opening a durian, and ways to know it's ripe so it helps to have someone who knows this information to open it for you, or do your research beforehand. Durian's commonly enjoyed raw on its own, or with its fruity partner, Mangosteen. In far-away places from the source of Durian, it can be found frozen or freeze-dried at Asian grocery stores. Durian is also used in desserts (I suggest a raw, 100% fruit strawberry-durian cake with a dried fruit crust), candies, curries, sauces, and almost every other food you can think of!.