Fruit Durian - “The smelly king of fruits is durian. How to choose, how to open and eat, how to try to avoid the smell, and some more facts to know ahead of time.”

An unusual exotic durian fruit has a specific unpleasant odor. This feature distinguishes the fruit from all other cultures. Scientists have not yet hypothesized what causes the flavor of durian. However, the king of fruits is revered by many fans for its delicious pulp.

The civet durian is oblong in shape, the diameter of the fruit is about 20 cm. The peel is covered with large spikes. This is a kind of natural protection of the plant from animals. The durian tree is distinguished by large shiny foliage and a massive trunk. It reaches a height of 40 meters. The plant does not bloom for long, during this period umbrella inflorescences are formed on spreading branches. In one night, they fall off, and the ripening of exotic fruits begins.

Odorous, prickly and smelly fruit has a delicate edible pulp. Many gourmets highly appreciate her culinary taste. After cutting the fruit, 5 chambers can be seen. One of them contains seeds. The color of the fruit is light green or yellowish.

Selecting and storing durian

Choosing the most smelly fruit does not depend on its aroma. A foul-smelling product can taste delicious and delicious. Of the large number of varieties of durian, only 9 varieties are recognized as edible.

The raw pulp of the product is a delicacy. Delicious dishes are prepared from the pulp. The fruits can be preserved. You can only eat ripe fruits. If they are overripe, the flesh begins to taste bitter, and the taste deteriorates.

There are special rules for choosing durian:

the top of the fruit with a tail should have a more pronounced smell
the shell should have small cracks
when tapping on the peel, a dull gurgling should be heard
the ripe fruit has yellowish thorns with brown tips.

Durian is not stored for a long time. Basically, the fruit is immediately opened and its pulp is absorbed. Otherwise, the unpleasant smell will spread very quickly throughout the room. So that the pulp does not spread the smell, it is eaten immediately. The rind is used in industries for smoking fish. The smelly fruit of Thailand is not frozen or kept fresh. Candied fruits and desserts are prepared from it.

durian season

Where durians grow is of interest to many people who are fond of exotic delicacies. The tree grows in Asian countries with a humid tropical climate. It is found in Malaysia, India, Indochina, Thailand. The civet species is very popular. The variety grows in Ceylon, Brazil and Africa. The plant bears fruit all year round.

In Thai markets, durians can be found on sale from mid-April to the end of September. In season, it is also sold in supermarkets. Gourmets advise buying smelly fruit in Thailand from market vendors.

What does durian smell like?

Exotic durian and alcohol are not compatible. Alcohol compounds cause unwanted reactions from the body. In no case should you drink fruit pulp with an alcoholic drink. You may feel unwell and develop a heart attack. Alcoholic drinks can be consumed no earlier than 5 hours after the fruit.

A sample of the exotic fruit durian will not leave anyone indifferent. A very corrosive sweetish putrid smell is not to everyone's liking and can kill the appetite. However, in the countries of Southeast Asia, the fruits are very popular and durian is considered the king of fruits. For an unaccustomed European, it is better to use the product only fresh and only a few slices after opening the shell. This will avoid the occurrence of discomfort in the digestive organs, allergies and dyspepsia.

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Durian civet - a tropical tree of the family Malvaceae, the fruit of which is a fruit famous for both its taste and smell. The name durian comes from Malaysian from the word duri (thorn) with the suffix -an. In Malaysia, you can find more than 30 varieties of this plant, 9 of which are edible. Each variety of durian differs in taste and aroma.

Durian grows in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, it is often grown in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, less often in South India, Sri Lanka, southern Thailand, Indochina and the southern Philippines (calorizer). The species is also cultivated in East Africa, very rarely in Latin and South America.

What are the fruits of durian

Durian flowers are large and have a heavy, sour smell. The nectar and pollen of durians are eaten by bats, and they pollinate the plant.

Durian fruits are spherical in shape and develop on trunks or branches. They reach a diameter of up to 30 cm and a mass of more than 5 kg, have a very hard shell covered with spines.

The color of the fruit shell is green-brown, the flesh is yellow-red. Inside the fruit there are five sockets, each of which contains one shiny seed 2 to 6 cm in size, which has a color from pale yellow to red-brown. The seed is surrounded by a thick top (aryllus) that has the consistency of a pudding and is cream to dark yellow in color. This edible arillus has a sweet, nutty-cheesy flavor and an incomparable aroma. The ripe fruit has a peculiar, very corrosive, sweetish-putrid smell.

durian calories

Durian is quite high in calories and contains 147 kcal per 100 grams of product.

The composition and useful properties of durian

The uniqueness of this fruit is that it contains a large amount of organic matter. It is because of the volatile compounds that this exotic fruit has an unpleasant odor. Durian is the only edible fruit in the world that contains organic matter.

The characteristic unpleasant smell of durian is due to the presence in it of indole- a chemical compound with an unpleasant odor, which, however, when strongly diluted, gives a delicate jasmine note. Indole is very bactericidal and extremely useful, so the use of durian in food helps to restore the health of sick people and animals.

Uses of durian in cooking

The specific properties of durian did not prevent this fruit from taking its rightful place in the kitchen. From it you can cook a lot of delicious dishes, for example, fragrant milkshakes and great ice cream.

Southeast Asia is characterized by the use of the durian fruit as the basis for the preparation of dried fruits (calorizator). Moreover, the pulp of the fruit is not just dried, but a kind of marshmallow is made. In this state, the fruit can be stored for a long time, and the taste and beneficial properties of durian remain unchanged.

In Thailand, for example, one of the most popular desserts is Khao Nam Ka Ti Turian, which can be found in all roadside cafes and eateries. This dish is a cup of glutinous rice that has been drizzled liberally with coconut syrup, sweetened with sugarcane juice and flavored with pieces of fresh durian fruit.

One of the favorite Malay treats is durian dodol. Despite the fact that in Malaysia this dish is called a pie, in fact it is a delicious, slightly viscous, frozen baked mass, consisting of durian pulp, glutinous rice, palm sugar and coconut milk.

Myths about durian

Durian has a terrible smell. It is not true. Durian has a specific and rather strong hapah, however, it can be called unusual rather than bad.
Durian has a disgusting taste. This is also not true. Not everyone likes the taste the first time, but if you are persistent and decide to try it again, you may become a fan of durian. You may like its taste, but the unusual texture scares many.
Durian should not be carried indoors or on board aircraft. This is true. The smell of durian is very persistent and does not weather well, even in the refrigerator, if you put durian there, all the product will absorb its smell.
Durian should not be combined with alcohol. This is true. It is undesirable to combine it with alcohol because of the high content of various active enzymes in it. This can lead to an increase in temperature and even unpredictable consequences.
Durian is an aphrodisiac. This is true. Durian is a strong aphrodisiac not only for men but also for women.

Super User

Unusual fruits of Thailand

In Thailand, as in any hot tropical country, many interesting fruits grow, hitherto unseen by the Russian layman. Going on vacation to this sunny kingdom, do not forget to try at least some of them, and you can even bring something home with you in your suitcase. What exotic fruits grow in Thailand, and which must-try? Read on!

durian

Let's start, perhaps, with the king of all exotic fruits of Southeast Asia, with durian! Durian grows in Thailand, for example, on the island of Koh Samui. The fruits are very large, heavy and prickly. They can weigh up to 8 kg. Surely you have already heard about it. Durian is very smelly. It smells so strong that it is forbidden to enter hotels with it, it is also forbidden to be transported. The smell of durian is very bad weathered. I once heard a story that due to the fact that this fruit crashed on an airplane, the aircraft had to be scrapped, since even many days of airing did not help. The fruit smells really not so hot, but very tasty! The taste of ripe durian is slightly sugary, very soft, it is impossible to eat a lot, as it is very high in calories. In addition, durian has a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac.

You can buy it in the store both whole and already cut, covered with cling film. It is better to buy already chopped, since you will not eat a whole one! Ripe fruit is yellow and soft, a little unripe can be green and hard (when unripe, durian is not very tasty). When you bring it home, eat it right away, otherwise it will stink terribly! We in Vietnam, having come from the store, immediately put it outside the threshold and closed the door. When they ate, the bones were buried so that they would not stink from the trash.

Lychee

I recommend to everyone! You will never forget the wonderful delicate taste of lychee. Lychee is a round fruit of pink or bright red color with one stone in the middle. Sold in all markets in Thailand and in almost all stores. It is quite inexpensive. When the fruit is ripe, the peel is very easy to separate from the pulp. But you can only find this fruit from May to the end of July, during the picking season. You can freeze lychee for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. Its fruits are rich in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and proteins. Lychee contains vitamins PP, which prevent the development of atherosclerosis, precisely because of the widespread distribution of this fruit in the countries of Southeast Asia, the disease is rare there.

Dragon Fruit or Dragon Eye

If you ask me what this frkut looks like, I will answer - nothing! With its taste, I can not compare any of the domestic fruits we know. The pulp is tender, with small black bones. International name Pitahaya, cactus fruit. Twice as big as a pear, the elongated dragon fruit may have some green on the "feathers", which does not mean that it is not ripe. It grows in Thailand, sings a lot in Vietnam in July, where at this time it can be bought literally for a penny (we bought a kilogram for 8,000 dong!). The flesh inside can be either white or red. The taste is slightly sweet, sometimes with a slight sourness. In general, a very pleasant fruit, does not bother. Useful for diabetes, gastritis, endocrine diseases.

Rambutan

In our common people, it is better known as a "furry". A very delicate tasty fruit that grows in Thailand, Vietnam and other countries of Southeast Asia. The fruits themselves are soft, and these "thorns" are completely harmless. The white flesh tastes sweetish-sour, it adheres very firmly to the stone, which is sometimes annoying, as the flesh comes off along with the hard skin of the stone. By the way, the bone can also be eaten! Rambutan contains vitamin C, nicotinic acid, carbohydrates. Phosphorus, calcium.

Mohnatika season from May to October. I recommend to everyone!

Noina (sugar apple, Annona scaly)

This is a fruit that I simply called “honey”, which I went crazy about and always bought as much as possible. Very tasty, honey, ripe just melts in your mouth! My most favorite and desired fruit in Thailand after the durian. Ripe fruits are covered with green “scales”, soft, sometimes found with a sun-burnt barrel. The size of a large apple. The taste is like nothing else.

There are a lot of hard, fairly large bones inside, be careful! Unripe fruits are completely tasteless, similar to soap or pumpkin. Therefore, it is better to take a very soft fruit, so that for sure it turns out to be ripe. Noyna season from June to September. This fruit is very rich in vitamin C and amino acids.

passionfruit or passion fruit

This is my husband's favorite fruit. He bought it in bags and caught a buzz! In addition to the name Passionfruit, it is also called Granadilli, Passionflower and Edible Passion Flower. He comes from South America, but is very popular in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand.

The fruits are egg-shaped, smooth, slightly oblong, bright coloring - from purple to deep red. There are also yellow fruits, but they are less sweet. Passion fruit should be cut in half, and inside there will be a yellow-red jelly with stones, which is eaten with a spoon. Delicious! Popular juices are also made from the pulp.

Passion fruit season from May to August. Strong aphrodisiac.

Mangosteen (garcinia, mankut)

The fruit is about the size of a small apple, hard on the outside, with white soft flesh. The skin is dark purple. Unripe, very tasteless, like raw potatoes with a taste of coffee. Usually it is easy to run into such a mangosteen at the beginning of the season. The pulp tastes like nothing, sweet and sour. Sometimes there are overripe fruits, then they are also tasteless.

Harvest season from April to September. Some call the mangosteen the king of fruits, but personally I did not find anything surprising in it.

Longkong (Longan)

A very interesting fruit, just like the previous ones, does not look like any familiar to us. The fruits are the size of cherry tomatoes, the skin is light brown to yellow. The pulp is transparent, soft, elastic. The fresh light taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, pleasant, difficult to compare with anything.

Longan is rich in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium. When buying, make sure that the skin on the fruit is not cracked or with other visible defects, as such fruits quickly deteriorate. It is advisable to store in the refrigerator, but it is better to eat immediately!

The longan season runs from April to June. More often found in the markets. It is also sold by street vendors in Thailand.

Lam-yai

Lam-yai is somewhat reminiscent of Longan in taste, but, in my opinion, more sweet. I like him more. About the same size as cherry tomatoes. Dense berries on one brush (like grapes), sold mainly in the markets directly on the branches.

The fruits of lam-yai are covered with a dense brown peel, which, however, is easy to peel. Inside, yellowish-white flesh, very juicy, has a specific aftertaste. Be careful, there is a slippery and big bone inside! In addition to Thailand, this exotic fruit is also very popular in Vietnam.

Season from July to September. Contains many useful substances, such as iron, phosphorus and bioacids.

Mango

Finally, about the famous Thai mango! As for me, I don’t understand at all why people go crazy for Thai yellow mango. In my opinion, the Israeli mango tricolor is much tastier. But oh well, it's not about him.

The mango that is sold in Thailand is very different from the mango that is sold here. I think many will agree with me. Thai mango is completely yellow - yellow skin, yellow flesh, inside a large hard stone. Sometimes the color of the peel can be light orange (often one barrel), this is a sunburn.

Reduces constipation

Durian fruits are rich in dietary fiber. It absorbs water well, swells as it passes through the digestive tract, gently accelerates intestinal motility, preventing constipation. Natural fiber helps to eliminate carcinogens from the body and prevents the development of bowel cancer.

Prevents anemia

Anemia is not always caused by a lack of iron in the body. Deficiency in the body of folate (vitamin B9) is another negative factor for the development of another type of anemia. The specified vitamin is involved in the production of normal red blood cells, and there is plenty of it in durian fruits. The small amounts of copper and iron found in these fruits also aid in the formation of blood cells.

Beneficial effect on the skin

Vitamin C is involved in the production of collagen, an important protein component of the skin, as well as bones, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Doctors attribute powerful wound healing properties to it, while one glass of durian pulp contains 80% of the adult daily value of this vitamin.

Good for bones

The king of fruits is rich in potassium, which helps to maintain healthy doses of calcium in the body and prevents the rapid excretion of this mineral along with urine. Potassium by itself nourishes the bone tissue quite well and prevents the bones from becoming too brittle.

Against diabetes

Manganese in durian regulates blood sugar levels, prevents the development of diabetes and is an essential component of the health of the human endocrine system. The body uses this trace element as a cofactor for an antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase.

For the thyroid gland

In addition to iodine, for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, the maintenance of its metabolic processes, the reproduction of hormones, another trace element is needed - copper. Copper is also present in the pulp of durian.

Improves digestion

The King of Fruits is also loaded with thiamine, which is responsible for normal appetite and helps produce hydrochloric acid for faster digestion.

Relieves migraines

Are you suffering from migraines? Durian will help ease the pain. The riboflavin (vitamin of group B) found in the pulp of the fruit is considered a very effective remedy for getting rid of severe headaches.

Fights depression

The beneficial properties of durian as a natural antidepressant are supported by a high concentration of the amino acid (AA) tryptophan. This amino acid is often tacitly referred to as "natural sleeping powder". In the human body, it is converted to serotonin and melatonin, neurochemicals that play an important role in sleep induction and epilepsy prevention.

In addition, vitamin B6 is an important element in the fight against depression. Lack of this particular vitamin can lead to severe depression. Studies have shown that patients with a deficiency of this nutrient in the body experienced depression, were in a persistently bad mood, experienced bouts of irritability and periods of deep depression.

An exceptional feature is also that it is rich in B vitamins - a rarity among exotic fruits. Its exotic fruits contain niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamine (vitamin B1). These nutrients are essential for the health of the nervous system.

Strengthens teeth

To maintain healthy teeth and gums, calcium needs the help of phosphorus, which is found in durian fruits like many other valuable minerals.

energy wealth

Like some of the other fruits of the tropics such as bananas, avocados and jackfruit, durian is rich in energy that it can transfer to the human body. In 100 g of fresh pulp, there are 147 calories, a lot of easily digestible sucrose and fructose, which are ready to instantly replenish the body's energy reserves.

Even though durian fruits are relatively high in fat among fruits, they are free of saturated fat and cholesterol.

In addition to all of the above, the beneficial properties of durian include the development of the body's resistance against infections, boosting immunity, protection against free radicals, strengthening the heart muscle and normalizing blood pressure.

Selection and storage

Durian is a seasonal fruit. The harvest runs from June to August and coincides with the harvest of many other tropical fruits such as mangosteen (or mangosteen), jackfruit and mango. It is best to buy them at the specified time.

Outside the homeland, the king of fruits is one of the most expensive fruits, especially the Sultan variety (D24), which is in demand in the USA and European countries. In the refrigerator, fruits can be stored for only a few days.

You will have to determine the preferred degree of maturity yourself. Some people like slightly unripe fruits, more fragrant, while others prefer fully ripened specimens.

In addition to the pulp, oval-shaped durian seeds can also be eaten, but only in boiled form. They taste like jackfruit seeds, although not everyone likes them.

For the Russian ear, the word "durian" sounds very unusual, simultaneously evoking the immortal novel by Oscar Wilde and drawing the image of a mysterious fruit with "bad" properties. However, everything is much simpler - the name of the tropical fruit is translated as "prickly" and "thorn" due to the original appearance. Those who have tried durian at least once assure that this dessert cannot be compared with anything, and it is simply impossible to forget its amazing taste.

Durian: how to find out

Durian is a traditional delicacy of Southeast Asia, it is grown in Malaysia, India, the Kingdom of Thailand, etc., small "plantations" can be found in South and Latin America. There are about 30 varieties in the world, of which about 9 are edible, and only 3-4 are the most popular.

If you want to know what durian looks like, the photos will show a prickly ball up to 20 cm in size, similar to. The skin of the fruit is very thick, covered with dense greenish-brown spines that protect the tender flesh until fully ripe. Under the peel - a few slices of yellowish-cream filling, the consistency of durian resembles melted butter or cream cheese.

Smell banned?

Unlike many other tropical delicacies, the durian fruit is practically not exported, it is a domestic product. Russian tourists can enjoy fresh durian only directly in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and other Asian countries, where the popularity of the southern chestnut just rolls over. So, in the Kingdom of Thailand, it is rightfully called the king of local fruits, believing that the smell of durian causes hellish visions, and the taste gives the pleasures of paradise.

The smell of durian has long been the talk of the town: how many definitions this strange aroma has not received! What does durian smell like and what can it be compared to? Someone assures that a ripe fruit gives off rotten eggs, someone calls it a mixture of rotten fish and city sewage, and on the forums you can also find such spectacular descriptions as “a combination of fried onions and turpentine”.

Abroad, the smell of durian is unambiguous: public places (shops, transport, banks, some hotels, etc.) cannot be entered with this fruit, and special prohibition signs are hung for tourists and forgetful citizens. It is forbidden by law to take the king of fruits out of Thailand: even immature durians wrapped in several layers of cellophane can practically poison the entire plane with their disgusting smell.

Buttercream and sweet onion flavor

But if the smell of durian causes almost horror among local residents and Russian tourists, then the taste gives a completely different feeling.

Connoisseurs assure that not everyone succeeds in tasting the Asian chestnut on the first try. But after the second or third time, no one remains indifferent to durian - they either immediately “sit down” on this fruit or hate it.

Exotic durian - what does this fruit taste like and what do seasoned tourists say about it? One of the main characteristics of the fruit is this: there are no two durian fruits that are the same in taste and smell. The shade of taste depends on many conditions: country, variety, storage conditions and ripeness. The pulp most often tastes like vanilla buttercream, warm pastries, and sometimes sweet fried onions or even a delicious salad with mayonnaise. One thing is invariable, the members of the forum assure, it is incredibly tasty!

Durian is such an interesting and specific fruit that durian festivals are held in some countries ...

What are the benefits of durian?

The uniqueness of durian is not limited to the original flavoring properties, like many fruits, it can be used for medicinal purposes. So what are the health benefits of durian?

This savory fruit is a champion in iron, potassium and copper, as well as other B vitamins.

Durian strengthens the heart and helps with anemia, has a healing effect on the endocrine system, and thanks to dietary fiber regulates bowel function. The king of Thai fruits is an excellent antidepressant, and not only because of its luxurious taste. Tryptophan in the composition of the pulp quickly turns into serotonin, allowing you to cope with depressed mood and irritability.

If on a romantic trip you decide to buy durian in the market, both you and your significant other will appreciate the beneficial properties of the fruit. Asian chestnut has a beneficial effect on the female hormonal system, enhances reproductive function, and also enhances male potency. The full power of the fruit effect on sexual function can be estimated from the frivolous Asian proverb: "When the durian falls down, sarongs fly up."

And durian is a very nutritious product and quite (for a fruit!) High-calorie: about 150 kcal per 100 g of pulp. Therefore, a couple of slices of durian is a healthy and dense snack during a hot vacation.

Contraindications

In order for durian to bring you bright and only positive emotions on a trip, follow a few rules:

It is strictly forbidden to combine the king of fruits with alcohol: this can cause a powerful surge in pressure and even a heart attack. And yes, you don't have to drink alcohol!
Hypertensive patients should also not take risks and get carried away with juicy fruits.
During pregnancy and lactation, durian is also not worth trying.
For those who, even on vacation, monitor their weight and follow a diet, you need to be more careful: having gone too far with durian, there is a risk of earning 1-2 extra pounds.
Well, do not try to smuggle durian into a hotel or plane. Suddenly your forgetfulness or sense of humor will not be appreciated?

How to store and eat?

There is only one storage rule for durian, but it is important - this fruit is eaten only fresh and very quickly.

They assure that it can be stored at home for up to 3-5 days, wrapped in several layers of film, but you will get dubious pleasure - during these days the room and things will be so saturated with smell that it will be almost impossible to get rid of the aroma of durian. It is also not recommended to freeze it - after defrosting, an appetizing fruit loses most of its properties.

Durian is eaten fresh, or with the hands, removing the skin and breaking off the slices, or with a spoon. Scooping out the tender pulp with a spoon is a little longer, but then you will save a lot of time by not trying to wipe the dubious fruity smell from your hands.

Durian slices are added to exotic cocktails, desserts and ice cream, chips, sweets and jam are made from it, which can be an excellent souvenir - they are allowed to be exported from the country in any quantities.

Choosing the most delicious durian

In order to choose the ripest and best fruit and not be disappointed in the favorite Thai fruit, you need to remember a few tricks.

If possible, buy durian only in the markets. It is there that the fruits are the most ripe and juicy.
Evaluate the external signs of the fruit: if you knock on the peel, a dull sound should come out, like a ripe watermelon. When pressed, the skin of a ripe durian gives in to pressure a little, green - remains firm, overripe - too soft. The spikes should move slightly to the side and be flexible.
If you are going to eat your fruit calmly at home or on the beach, buy only whole fruits, if you want to feast on it right away, ask for it to be cut and packaged. You can also determine the ripeness by the pulp, the requirements for it are the same as for the peel.
Focus on the smell - a ripe, but not overripe durian smells calm, not sharp. When there is no aroma at all, the fruit is not ripe, and if you feel bad from the aroma on the way to the counter, there is a risk that the fruit has stale.