Durian (Durio zubethinus), a spiky fruit, is called the "King of Fruit" by some people. It originated from South-East Asia, and is native to Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Durian is well-known for its huge size, unique smell, and spiky surface. The biggest durian reported has a size of 12 inches long, 6 inches in diameter, and can weigh 2 to 7 lbs. Durian comes from the Malay words "duri" which means thorn because of its thorn-like spikes. There are so many kinds of Durio species but only a few are known as producing the good-quality fruit.The durian tree is extremely big in size. It can grow to 80-165 feet tall. The flowers are produced in three to thirty clusters on branches. Every flower has a sepal and five or six petals. Durian has one or two flowering and fruiting periods per year depending on the species and the place it grows.
The durian flower is big and give a heavy unique smell. Its sticky nectar is a tasty food for flying animals. Some scientists say that durian is pollinated most by bats. However, there are several species which are pollinated by spiders and birds.
Durian is considered a fruit with the highest amount of fat, so it should be eaten with moderation. It is also a great source of carbohydrates and protein. Some people say that durian has other benefits such as inducing more restful sleep, enhancing libido, and promoting a feeling of relaxation. [Editor's Note: These claims aren't backed up by scientific studies, but they are fun to think about! --J. Learn]
"Don't eat durian with alcohol together because it will expand the durian in your stomach and make your stomach explode". This is a belief that durian can cause damage when eaten together with alcoholic drink or coffee. Despite that fact, there is no scientific basis to support that. There are several articles on the internet that say people have tried to prove this would happen, but there nothing happened to them.
There are so many signs saying that durian is not allowed in a particular area. Some hotels prohibit their costumers from bringing durian to their rooms. this is due to the mess, and the strong smell of the fruit. In spite of the heavy smell, durian has an extremely delicious taste. There are so many kinds of foods and beverages made from durian such as those shown below. My family usually enjoys durian with all the family. It feels very cozy just by gathering, chatting, and eating durian together with the whole family.
Durian can be described as having a succulent, creamy filling but smelling like stinky socks. Some people also describe the durian smell in may ways. For example, fermented onions, overripe cheese, rotting fish, a city dump on a hot summers day. Anyway,don't let that dissuade you from trying it. Because most people say that this fruit is the most delicious fruit on earth.
Preparing durian is quite simple. Select ripe durians, put it into a bowl, cover with sliced ice above and top with sweetened condensed milk. Mix well about 30 seconds and ... ready! You can add some other fruits such as avocado or pineapple.
A man is enjoying durian; Es Campur (Mixed Ice) with Durian; Chopped Durian & Meat
Below is a video on how to open a durian. Durian has a thick and spiky skin, and sometimes it gets a little tricky to open and enjoy the fruit. We have to use some tools like a big chopper to open the durian.
Image from :
- FarmPhoto.com
- http://zo-d.com/stuff/images/durian-king-of-fruits.jpg
- http://www.nurulrahman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/durian_banned.jpg
- http://timothytiah.blogspot.com/2008/07/durian-party-with-alcohol.html
- http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2167734223_338bd54fa1.jpg?v=0
Information from :
- http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/durian_ars.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian
Video from :
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWrhD0uyMQU