Incredibly Stinky Fruit
Jose Mier here with another the world’s most famous and beloved foods. This time it’s not something as ubiquitous as the hamburger or pizza but the fruit known as durian. I myself have never tasted this fruit, but I have read about it and its reputation precedes it. Durian has a very pungent aroma. It’s so famous for its terrible smell that it has gained a lot of notoriety.
Fruit is found in Southeast Asia predominately, although once when I was in Hawaii I had heard but it was available there. However, on a tour around Oahu I was unable to find any and therefore can’t describe the smell or the taste.
Aside from being eaten on its own this fruit is used to flavor other dishes and candies. The fruit is famous for its texture which is described as custard-like. The smell, on the other hand, has been described in various ways such as: “turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.” It’s so pungent that it has been banned from the Singapore subway system.
An article on the Smithsonian website details the fact that there are over 50 compounds in durian fruit that contribute to its aroma. This unique combination compounds makes up the terrible smell and it’s not one single element responsible for it.
This fruit is not something that’s easily available to us in the United States and I doubt that supermarkets would want to carry it. If you are able to find it, it will probably be in a specialty market. I might just want to give it a try to let you know if it lives up to its reputation. If you happen upon some of this stinky fruit and are brave enough to sample it, drop me a line and let me know your thoughts.
