“Where do durians come from?”
“How do durians taste like?”
“Why can’t I find durian trees in Singapore?”
Durian – love it or hate it, it is one of the world’s most mysterious fruits with few scientific studies and explanations for its unique smell, taste and appearance.
Whether you are an avid fan of durians or not, you must have wondered about the fruit at some point.
Today, we are going to answer some of the biggest questions about this magnificent fruit. Read on to find out more today!
1. What is Durian Fruit?
Believe it or not, this simple query has gotten tons of searches on Google!
Durian is essentially a fruit. The fruit belongs to a family of trees that belong to the genus Durio. Like other fruits such as rambutans and mangoes, durian is the fruit bore by these trees.
2. What does Durian taste like?
There’s no easy way to describe what durian tastes like. Many people who have tried Durian on camera have dozens of interesting descriptions.
Some non-fans mentioned that durian tastes like faeces with “turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock”.
Durian lovers, on the other hand, would tell you that durian has an acquired but strong taste. The flavour of Durian is incomparable to any other dish in the world. It can be sweet, bitter or bittersweet depending on the species of durian. It might even taste creamy and milky.
You can tell a ripe and ‘good’ durian from an unripe one by the intensity of its taste!
3. What does Durian smell like?
Ah, this is another frequently asked question with dozens of answers.
Some remark that it smells like rotten onions while others comment that it resembles raw sewage.
The best words to describe the smell of Durians would be unique and pungent. It can be overpowering especially if the fruit is overripened, but durians generally smell somewhat nutty with a hint of sweetness and cream.
4. How do you eat Durian?
Like other fruits, there are countless ways to enjoy the king of fruit. You would need to cut the durians and remove the flesh from the husk first.
You can enjoy the durians as it is by peeling the flesh off the seed. Alternatively, you could repurpose the flesh into other dishes like ice-cream or even durian pengat. You could even use the flesh to make a durian cake!
5. How Much does Durian Cost?
There is no black and white answer for this question as the price of Durian can differ based on the durian species, demand and availability.
Generally, durians can cost anywhere from SGD45 for 800g to even SGD83 on our e-shop.
The more expensive species of durians include the ever-loved Mao Shan Wang and Black Pearl while more economical alternatives comprise S17 and D24.
6. Where is Durian Grown?
Like many tropical fruits, durians are grown in durian plantations across Southeast Asia.
Durian plantations must be situated away from the bustling city centres so as to get sufficient sunlight and terrain to grow prosperously.
Our plantations are located in Malaysia. Have a look.
7. How do you Cut a Durian?
All you need is a knife and a cloth to protect yourself from the thorns on the husk. Hold the Durian with one hand (covered with a cloth) and poke the middle “star” of the Durian with your knife.
Once it penetrates the husk, twist it left and right a few times.
Do proceed with caution as the thorns can be hazardous. If you are unsure of handling durians, head to a store and get the staff to open the durians for you.
8. When is the Best Time to Buy Durian?
Durian season is undoubtedly the time where durians are the ripest. But you can find them during ‘smaller’ seasons from December to January.
9. How do you Grow Durian at Home?
So, you absolutely love durians and want to plant them at home like many other durian lovers.
Unfortunately, one cannot grow durians in one’s garden as durian seedlings need a steep terrain and tropical climate to bear durian fruit.