This insane fruit is probably the worlds mostcelebrated (and persecuted)

Manyyearsago,anagingkingwasntlovedbyhisyoungbride.Sohewenttoseeahermit.Thehermitsentthekingonanepicjourneytocollectvariousrareandwonderfulingredientsandplanttheminhisgarden.Thekingdidashewastoldand,notlongafter,aluscious,fragrantduriantreesprangup.

Aftertastingitssplendidfruit,theyoungbrideimmediatelyfellfortheking,andthekingthrewabigpartytocelebrate.Unfortunately,heforgottoinvitethehermitsothehermitcursedthetree.Fromthatdayon,thedeliciousdurianretaineditsseductivetaste,butsmelledlikeatrashdumponahotsummersday,andwascoveredinashellofnastyspikes.

SEEALSO:Theeasytricktoeatmorefruitandvegetables

SlightlymorecomplexversionsofthislegendcanbefoundacrossSoutheastAsia,butwhatssureisthatthestenchandspikinesshaventhadthenegativeeffectthehermitintended.Thedurianisknownasthekingoffruitsandisreveredthroughouttheregion.Ithasevenbecomesomethingofafascinationforforeignvisitors.

HomeLifestyleCulinaryThis insane fruit is probably the worlds most celebrated (andpersecuted)

Mar 17, 2015 By Global Post

ThedurianfruitisconsideredanaphrodisiacinsomeSoutheastAsiacountries.(Shutterstock)

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AbitlikeBritainsmarmite,formostoutsiders,durianisamatterofloveorhate.

Lindsay,aselfdeclareddurianobsessive,doesntreallyseewhatallthecontroversyisabout.Durianisveryeasytolove,arguedthe25yearoldfromOregon.Sheiscertainlyoneofthetropicalfruitsbiggestfans.Forthepastthreeyears,herlifehasbeenallabouteatingandlearningaboutdurian.SheandherhusbandhavefollowedthetrailofduriananditsdifferentvarietiesacrossSoutheastAsia,includingThailand,Indonesia,Malaysia,duriansmainproducers.HerblogYearofthedurian(thatturnedintothreeyears,andabook)isagoldmineofinformationonthemostdivisivefruitofall.

AlotofpeopleareveryintimidatedbydurianbutIthinkithasalotmoretodowithitsbadrepinthemediathanwithanythingparticularlywrongwithdurian,Lindsaysaid.

Sheacknowledgestheprehistoric,spikydangerouslookingfruitcanbedisquietingatfirst.Shapedlikeafootball,entirelycoveredinashellofthick,sharp,greenishhorns,durianlookslikeacrazyscientistexperimentedonalycheeandthatsomethingwentterriblywrong.

Butmorethanitslooks,whatmakesduriancontroversialisitssmell.Ifdurianisaround,youllknow.

FoodwriterRichardSterlinghasdescribeditssmellsaspigshit,turpentineandonionsgarnishedwithadirtygymsock.

ItspungentodorisacknowledgedinSoutheastAsiathefruitisbannedonmostpublictransport,andyouprobablywontbeallowedinahotel,ataxioranairplanewithadurianinyourbag.

Thedurianmaysmellnastybutyouvenevertastedamoredeliciousandheavenlyfruit.(Shutterstock)

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javascript:void(0)http://www.yearofthedurian.com/https://wordpress.com/?ref=lofhttp://richardsterling.me/durian-balut-long-pig-blood-locust/

Youlloftenhearthatduriansmellslikehellbuttasteslikeheaven.

Yes,IfreelyadmitthatwhenripeitcansmelllikeadeadanimalButgetdowntothepaleyellow,creamyflesh,andyoullexperienceovertonesofhazelnut,apricot,caramelizedbananaandeggcustard,writesTheNewYorkTimesSoutheastAsiacorrespondent.

Ofcourseeveryonelovesit.Itsdelicious,saysRobi,aduriansellerinJakartasPalmerastreetmarket.Armedwithaviciouslookingmachete,hecutsadelicateVinthethornyshell,andpeelsitbackforcustomerstotaste.Hesaysheeasilysells200duriansaday.

Personally,andtomygreatdisappointment,theonlyovertonesIcouldtastewereofrottenonion.AndasrenownedchefAnthonyBourdain(whoactuallylovesdurian)putsit,yourbreathwillsmellasifyoudbeenFrenchkissingyourdeadgrandmother.

ItisdefinitelythesuperstarfruitofSoutheastAsia,anditdbehardtofindsomeoneinthefruitsnativeregionwhodoesntlovedurian.ItsunlikelythatanyotherfruitintheworldhasasmanyfestivalsdedicatedtoitseveraleverymonthacrosstheregionandevenaWorlddurianfestivalandaWorlddurianbeautypageantinThailand.Bewareifyoureplanningtotryyourluck,beingprettyisnotenough.YouhavetobeabletotalkniceaboutthefruittobeaMissDurian.

InIndonesiasSemarangdurianfestivalearlierthismonth,localfarmersfoughtfortastiestandbestlookingduriantitles,whileproudaficionadosenteredspeedeatingcompetitions.Organizerssay1,000attendedthefestivalandthat10,000duriansweresold.

ApileofdurianinIndonesia(GettyImages)

http://www.yearofthedurian.com/p/durian-events-and-festivals.html#.VP6kj0ZZGvUhttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/travel/a-love-letter-to-a-smelly-fruit.html?_r=0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PNmuExjlEMhttp://www.yearofthedurian.com/2012/05/miss-durian-world-beauty-pageant.html#.VP6eEUZZGvU

Duriancantasteverydifferentaccordingtowhereitsfrom,andhowitseaten.Itsusuallyguzzleddirectlyfromtheshell,butyouwillalsofindduriancake,durianpastry,duriansweets,duriancoffee,etc.InIndonesia,realdurianaddictscanevengetdurianflavoredcondoms.

Andthereismoretodurianthanitstaste.ItisbelievedtobeanaphrodisiacthereisanIndonesiansayingthatgoeswhenthedurianfalls,thesarongcomesupespeciallyifithaspasseduncrackedthroughthedigestivesystemofanelephant.Duriancouldalsoimproveeyesight,butoverconsumptionmightkillyou,andeveryconnoisseurwilltellyounottodrinkanddurianthatmightkillyoutoo.

Lindsaysaysthereisdefinitelysomethingspecialaboutdurian.

Thisiswhatdurianlookslike,inthePhilippines.(NoelCelis/AFP/GettyImages)

http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0120-hance_durians.html