Durian has long been known for its pungent odor. Descriptions range from rotting fruit, dirty gym socks, stinky armpits to even sewage. True, true, it is all true! While living in Malaysia, I could smell this fruit a block away when ripe.
Callie and Lucas in The Shells of Mersing taste their first durian in the Kluang market. Sam and Josh have a fun time watching their reactions. Eating durian in Malaysia is almost a rite of passage. It's just something you have to do, if only the one time.
I still remember the truck heaped with durian that lumbered through our neighborhood one afternoon, the driver honking his horn, the neighbors gathering with excitement as he approached. Malaysians love durian. At twelve inches long, six inches wide on average, and with a thorny husk as hard as a nut, durian is one funky-looking fruit. Definitely one of a kind.
Durian is native to southeast Asia, dating back to prehistoric times, but it has only been known to the western world for about 600 years. Durian trees can grow anywhere from 60 to 164 feet tall. One fruit alone can weigh about 3.3 pounds and fetch a surprisingly high price. A high quality durian purchased in Singapore, can cost as much as $50 U.S dollars. It has long since earned a reputation as the "King of the Fruits."
Durian is eaten fresh, cooked as a vegetable, boiled, roasted and fried. It's added to various dishes and sometimes sugared as a confection. Nutritionally, durian is a good source of dietary fiber, thiamine, vitamin B6, Manganese, and vitamin C.
There are plenty of myths surrounding durian, among them its aphrodisiac qualities and lethality when consumed with alcohol, neither of which has been proven. But one myth is indeed a fact. The damage done to one's head by a falling durian could be deadly. It's best to heed the posted warning signs when the fruit is ripe for picking.
Popular recipes in Malaysia include combining durian with chilies in a spicy Sambal sauce, and durian mixed in curry sauce served over fish and vegetables, but many Malaysians prefer eating durian freshly cut as is.
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| (Durian Ice Cream at Pink's) |
Another popular form is Durian Ice Cream. I sampled some once, thinking, How bad could it be? It was ice cream after all. Let's just say, it's not my favorite! You can imagine my surprise when I then discovered it was recently on the menu at "Pink's Ice Cream" shop in Seattle.
Durian Jokes
Said the Puffer fish to the Durian:
"I'm in love, I'm in love!"
No joke!We saw signs like this at upscale hotels in Singapore and Malaysia.
Durian: King of Tropical Fruits by S. Ketsa (2001) (nonfiction)
Durian by Kelly Weisheit (2010)
(With her family murdered, young Shekrah
escapes to the Kingdom of Durian, where she meets the prince of Durian, Torian)
Durian by Kelly Weisheit (2010)
(With her family murdered, young Shekrah
escapes to the Kingdom of Durian, where she meets the prince of Durian, Torian)
Durian Song (video link)
"Durian" by Zainal Alam (1950)
Zainal Alam (1926-1991) was born in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. A popular performer in his day, he has been called the 'Bob Hope' and 'Bing Crosby' of Malaysia. (Song is in Malay).
Sources: http://zainalalam-memoirs.blogspot.com/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/DietandNutrition/Pages/durians-8-myths-and-facts-about-the-king-of-fruits.aspx; http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2088/2
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