I agree that people can develop a taste for Durian. I
understand how beloved it is. I disagree that the farmer tried to get a bad
reaction from Mr. Zimmern – he seemed to want to promote the fruit as a treat,
not an emetic. I liked reading your experiences with it!
~ Stephen
From:
nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On
Behalf Of Jwlehman@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:26 AM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Durian, King of fruits?
In
a message dated 9/17/2009 12:40:22 AM Central Daylight Time,
Docshiva@Docshiva.org writes:
Anyone
watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern? He travels the world eating
weird stuff: eyeballs, bugs, cheese with live maggots, still-moving tentacles,
that sort of thing. The only thing he found so vile and disgusting that
he immediately threw up afterward was durian.
Dear Group,
I have eaten durian several times in my travels. That is what fruit exploring
is all about.
My first exposure was in the south of China, near the China Sea. It was in a
farmers fruit market. They delighted in having me smell it, watching my
reaction at the first smell, then laughing when through my wrinkled up face I
said no to purchasing one.
The second experience and first taste was in Thailand, at the home of a local
well educated family who had invited Barbara and I for dinner. They
treated us to a variety of local tropical fruits and vegetables, including
durian. Barbara couldn't get up enough courage to try it as she had
smelled the one in China. I ate seconds.
It is my opinion that some people like to startle first time tasters with
durian just as giving unsuspecting people green astringent persimmons. The
people in the China market delighted in my facial expressions to the aroma of a
variety that had a strong limburger aroma. I suspect Zimmerman was deliberately
given a specially bad stinky variety with equally foul taste. Adds to the show!
The durian I've eaten was pealed first, removing the skin, which reduces (not
totally eliminates) the foul aroma. It is best eaten by not smelling it first.
I've not had enough to "develop a taste" for it, but will eat it
again if the opportunity presents itself.
Breeders of durian have been working to reduce the limburger cheese smell of
durian and now have varieties that are being sold in US markets that carry very
little bad aroma, but still not an inviting aroma in my opinion. Just as in
apples, there is a great variety in durian. The taste of some varieties is
slightly sweet but still one must develop a taste for.
While traveling in China last December with a travel group I purchased durian
flavored candy in the Xian airport. There was a couple from Indonesia in the
group and they enjoyed the candy and asked for seconds. A lady from NY
(as I recall) asked to try one and promptly spit it out, with force. Some
sucked the hard piece until gone but didn't ask for another. I still have some
of that durian flavored candy here in my office. I'm not a big hard candy eater
and very honestly enjoy this even less.
If someone would like to experience the taste of durian, send me a self
addressed $1 stamped envelope and I'll send a piece, while the supply lasts.
The candy was made in Thailand and pieces are individually wrapped so should be
sanitary. None of us got sick from eating it in the airport.
Jerry