The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the
Malvaceae family, Regarded by many
people in southeast Asia
as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large
size, stomach-churning odour,
and formidable thorn-covered
husk. The fruit can grow
as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in
diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb).
Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown,
and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.
The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour,
that is strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard
the durian as pleasantly fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and
revolting. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense
disgust, and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine, and gym socks.
The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public
transportation in southeast Asia.
The durian, native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, has been known
to the Western world for about 600 years. The nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel
Wallace famously described its flesh as "a rich custard highly
flavoured with almonds". The flesh can be consumed at various stages of
ripeness, and it is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet edibles
in Southeast Asian cuisines. When cooked, the seeds also can be eaten.
There are 30 recognised Durio species,
at least nine of which produce edible fruit. Durio zibethinus is the
only species available in the international market: other species are sold in
their local regions. There are hundreds of durian cultivars; many consumers
express preferences for specific cultivars, which fetch higher prices in the
market.
