The durian fruit's smell is at odds with its taste (2024)

FAQs

What does durian fruit smell and taste like? ›

Frommer's Guide to Malaysia notes that the durian is “a large green, spiky fruit that, when cut open, smells worse than old tennis shoes. ... In case you're curious, the fruit has a creamy texture and tastes lightly sweet and deeply musky.”

Due to its overpowering smell, durian has been banned on many types of public transport across Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. In Singapore, the fruit is banned across all types of public transportation and even taxis have signs to let you know they refuse to carry passengers transporting the smelly fruit.

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Jackfruits are fibrous and dense, whereas durians are creamy, like bananas. Durian is said to taste like a mixture of cheese, almonds, caramel, and onion. Jackfruit is often described as tasting like a cross between mango and bananas, but its unripe form can easily take on other flavors.

So, why would durian fruit develop such a smell? It's an attractant, the study hypothesized. “Durian—by emanating an extremely pungent odor at ripening—appears to have the characteristic of a plant whose main dispersal vectors are odor-enticed primates rather than visually enticed animals,” the report stated.

Durians are high in sugars such as fructose and glucose. People with diabetes may experience a rise in blood sugar if too much of it is eaten. This may cause symptoms such as blurry vision and nausea. Hence, they will need to pay particular attention to how much durians they eat.

When the time comes, the labor-intensive process of harvesting begins, with each fruit being plucked at its peak ripeness. This painstaking approach has a profound impact on the flavor and, consequently, the market value of Nonthaburi durians.

In Java, the seeds are sliced thin and cooked with sugar as a confection. Uncooked durian seeds are potentially toxic due to cyclopropene fatty acids and should not be ingested. Young leaves and shoots of the durian are occasionally cooked as greens. Sometimes the ash of the burned rind is added to special cakes.

The answer, apparently, lies in the different ways peoples' brains interpret olfactory sensors. Apparently, the complex components that make up durian's unique aroma are similar but not identical to noxious smells like sulfur and turpentine, so brains like mine lump durian into the do-not-eat category.

Most Expensive Fruits List: Japan's Yubari King Melon is reportedly the most expensive fruit in the world, followed by Ruby Roman Grapes, Densuke Watermelon, and Taiyo no Tamago Mangoes.

Can durian grow in the United States? ›

Like other tropical plants, durian only grows and produces fruit successfully in USDA zones 10 to 12. Ideal temperatures range from 75 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Durian can take higher heat as long as adequate humidity is present. Temperatures below 75 degrees will kill durian.

Our trees which used to flower only twice, are now flowering up to four times. This means there will be more fruits this year... a bountiful harvest. "And with more fruits, the durian prices will not be as high as last year.

Durian flowers have both male and female parts. However, pollination only occurs when the female part of the flower receives pollen from a male part of a different flower, said Rimba president Sheema Abdul Aziz.

Jackfruit | Mít

Easily confused with durian, jackfruits are similar in size and colour on the outside, but different once they're open.

The common name “durian” is derived from the Malay word “duri” meaning thorn. The species name “zibethinus” is derived from the Italian word 'zibetto' meaning strong aroma.

This fruit tastes like gasoline, whipped butter, garlic, sweet vanilla pudding. It's called Musang King Durian. Some people say this specific variety is the best in the world.

Durian is widely celebrated for its long list of health benefits, which include the ability to boost immune system, prevent cancer and inhibit free radical activity, improve digestion, strengthen bones, improve signs of anaemia, prevent premature aging, lower blood pressure, and protect against cardiovascular diseases.

Washing your hands with soap after preparing or eating durian may not help reduce the odour. However, using sliced cucumber is surprisingly effective at reducing odour. If this cucumber fails to do the trick, we recommend using alcohol based sanitiser. Citrus compounds are very good at neutralising the smell of durian.