Until a couple of years ago I had never heard of the fruit, Durian.  Then one day, a good friend of mine started raving about how amazing it was and that it is actually considered an aphrodisiac, not unlike oysters and chocolate, two of my favorite foods!  Obviously, this peaked my interest and I began researching it a bit and also asking other people if they had tried this mystery fruit.   Not many people had but the ones that did all had a very similar response that is was amazing and I had to try it.  I had my first durian experience over last summer. Completely unplanned, someone brought it to a raw potluck party and I was so excited to finally see and taste this fruit for myself.  I had been warned that the smell could be offensive and that people either have a love or hate relationship with this unique fruit.  Mine was pure love!

I cannot say that I would want to bottle the fragrance as my new perfume but it definitely did not prohibit me from enjoying every second of the experience.  Looking back, I just remember laughing, feeling like a kid again eating ice cream and not caring if it is all over my face.  It gave me a natural high and rush of energy that was balanced.  I never felt the effects of crashing like you may with artificial sugar.  When explaining the texture and taste I like to compare it to vanilla custard that is slightly nutty.   The flesh inside was a creamy yellow color, but some of the other varieties may have a reddish flesh.  The outside of durian is brown with thorny spikes covering the shell.   It is quite a large fruit and has been nicknamed the “King of Fruits” due to its size being about one foot long, its heavy weight, and the volume of fruit it contains.  Other interesting and funny facts I learned about durian through my research include:

Numerous Health Benefits. Durian is rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including a great source of B-complex vitamins, especially good for vegetarians.  High in the antioxidant vitamin C, this fruit helps strengthen your immune system.  It is also rich in dietary fiber, magnesium, essential amino acids, copper, iron, and potassium.  Similar to an avocado, it is considered a ‘fatty fruit’ high in natural unsaturated fat, which helps give your skin a healthy smooth glow.

Ways to enjoy! I love it fresh from the shell by the spoonful but there are many other ways you can eat durian.  It is great base or addition to smoothies and ice cream.  You can also bake with it and can find delicious recipes online for cakes, cheesecakes, cream puffs, and more.  The seed is also edible only when cooked and is supposed to taste similar to almonds.

Banned in public areas. Durian is native to Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei but has been banned in most public places there, such as hotels and trains, due to the infamous smell and the negative reaction of tourists.  There are actually ‘no durian’ signs posted right next to ‘no smoking’ signs.  I definitely need a picture of that!

Andrew Zimmern not a fan. I found it funny to watch Andrew Zimmern from the show Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel.  He was not able to swallow a piece of durian.  The guy tries so many crazy things such as bugs, brains, etc. on his show but he was defeated by durian in two episodes.  He is definitely one of the haters and when that occurs I am secretly happy because that means more for the lovers like me!

Durian Connection. My favorite vendor to get fresh durian in New York is in Chinatown on the corner of Bowery and Grand St.  The vendor’s name is Jay and he is there all day long opening and packaging up durian in convenient vacuum seal containers like a work of art.   It is quite entertaining to watch.  Ironically, he is actually allergic to the fruit which is unfortunate because he is one of the lovers.

So which do you think you are…a durian lover or hater?  I hope this article entices you to find out because either way it will be an unforgettable experience!