Durian, the Mighty King of Fruit

What is the smelliest fruit on earth?

The Asians know the answer. Durian. Called as the mighty King of Fruits because of its big size and it is armed with sharp thorns, durian is also known for its smell.

The durian has distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some would say that the fruit has a great tempting fragrance and some say it’s too offensive and disgusting. People even describe it variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. That is why some hotels and public transportation do not allow people to bring this fruit to their territory.

Durian originated from Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. It became known to the western world about 600 years ago. Quoted from a British traveler in 1599, he said that durian has an excellent taste that it surpasses in flavor all the other fruits of the world. The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and it is used to flavor a wide variety of savory and sweet edibles in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.

The name durian comes from the Malay word duri (which means ‘thorn’) together with the suffix -an (for building a noun in Malay). The centre of ecological diversity for durians is the island of Borneo, Indonesia. However, today’s durians are commonly imported by Thailand, like mon thong, cha ni, and kan yao. In South East Asia, durian dishes are well-known for their deliciousness. Some are described below.

• In Malaysia, durian fruit is used to flavor sweet edibles such as candy, cakes, mousse, chips, ice cream and milkshakes. 
• Durian ice cream is a popular dessert in Indonesia, sold at street side stalls in Indonesian cities, especially in Java.
• Pulut durian, rice steamed with coconut milk and served with ripe durian (I think this is also available in Thailand). 
• Tempoyak is a dish from Sumatra (Indonesia) composed of fermented durian, coconut milk and an ultra-spicy sauce. Often eaten with rice.
• Sometimes the seeds are roasted, boiled or fried and have a consistency that's reminiscent of yams. In Java, seeds are thinly sliced and cooked with sugar to eat as candy.
• In parts of Indonesia, the young leaves of durian are sometimes cooked as vegetables and the petals of durian flowers are also eaten.