Recently, an interesting trend has been observed - modern people want extreme sports in the most unusual areas. It’s scary to jump with a parachute, it’s scary and expensive to fly on a plane, and it’s also dangerous to take a walk along the dark alley at night. And I want to throw out adrenaline. What to do? Watch horror movies on TV, do nude photo shoots and try exotic foods, including fried cockroaches, chestnuts and durian. The taste of the last product is very amateurish, and its smell is completely repulsive. Why is this fruit popular? Why is Thailand considered a favorite treat? It is worth understanding the topic.
What are you talking about?
So what is durian? What smells of this strange fruit? This is a tropical tree of the family Malvaceae. From the Malaysian name is translated as "spike". This fruit has been cultivated in Malaysia, Indochina, India and Thailand for over 600 years. Rarely, but found in South and Latin America. A damp tropical climate is suitable for durian. By the way, this plant has 30 varieties, among which only 9 are eaten. Each variety has an original taste and aroma.
Visually identifying durian is easy. It is an evergreen tree with spreading branches. In height, the tree sweeps up to 40 meters. The leaves are leathery and shiny, often pointed. The lower part of the leaves is covered with fleecy scales. Flowers that resemble umbrellas in shape grow on the trunk. The flowering period lasts only a few hours, and the flowers have a heavy smell. They open at dusk, and fall closer to dawn. From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, durian bears fruit.
Fruit: useful properties
Large spherical fruits grow on the tree, which can reach 30 cm in diameter and 10 kg in mass. Outside, the fruit is green with a rough fibrous structure and a hard shell, which is covered with pyramidal spines. Glossy seeds of up to 6 cm in size hide under a heavy peel. They have a warm color from red-brown to pale yellow. The pulp of the fetus is thick, creamy yellow. Until the fruit has ripened, it smells of fresh grass. But as it ripens, the smell changes, becoming corrosive and sweet-putrid.
Durian reduces constipation due to the content of dietary fiber. The fetus absorbs water well, accelerates peristalsis and removes carcinogens from the body, preventing the development of intestinal cancer. Durian also prevents anemia, positively affects the condition of the skin due to the presence of vitamin C, strengthens bones, treats diabetes and strengthens the thyroid gland. As a bonus, it is worth mentioning the fight against migraines and depression, as well as improving digestion.
In Asian countries, there are places where it is forbidden to eat durian. Its taste here is not so important as the smell, which cannot be eliminated even with the help of cosmetics. It’s easy to recognize such a forbidden zone, there will be a sign on the door with a durian crossed out by a red line. In Thailand, durian cannot be taken out of the country, as tourists are told at the airport. The fact is that in his homeland, durian is the king of fruits.
Beautiful legend
There is a story that is often retold in Asia, talking about how durian appeared. What does this fruit smell like? Someone will say that they are rotten fish, and for some, durian will completely resemble carrion. But according to legend, once he smelled of love! Many years ago, a king lived in Asia, who fell in love with him and turned to the magician for help. He gave him a fruit with a magical aroma and taste. The girl tasted the fruit and fell in love with the king. And he was so glad that he forgot to thank the magician. An angry wizard cursed the fruit and turned it into a stinking fetus. When the king again came to the garden for durian, he was disappointed and with frustration threw the fruit on the ground. But the split durian was just as tasty as before.
How to eat it?
We figured out that durian is a fruit. What does it smell like? Many will not like the answer to this question, since the smell has pronounced signs of rot. But is there a product that smells so good? This is where Thais can write a whole ode dedicated to the great taste of durian. They consider it sweet, rich, reminiscent of custard mixed with papaya and vanilla. The pulp can be eaten with a spoon. If it is hard, then it is not ripe. It is important to catch the right moment to eat, as the unripe durian is tasteless, and the overripe is bitter. You need to eat fruit as soon as you open it, only in this case you feel the fullness of the flavor bouquet.
You can eat durian by hand, breaking and pulling the pulp. For convenience, you can use a spoon, as the smell is eaten into the skin and then not washed. Locals are happy to drink fruit with salted water, which is poured into the empty half of the shell. In Thailand, slices of fruit are pickled in coconut milk and served. This is a real delicacy. Pies with fruit slices are also popular .
And what do they eat with?
If you get to the country where this fruit is grown, you will quickly understand how durian is eaten. Here it is truly a universal fruit, which is added to almost all possible dishes. It tastes in harmony with coffee, and therefore gourmets consider such a breakfast a useful culinary delight. The pulp of fruit in Thai cuisine is added to the mousse, ice cream and jam are prepared on its basis. The pulp of an unripe fruit is used as a vegetable, that is, cut into slices and fried or stewed with spices. And if you combine the flesh of durian and pumpkin, you get a fragrant paste, which the Thais use as a spice. In Indonesia, fruit is added to fish soup for a thick and aromatic flavor. Seeds also go to food, but replace seasoning. Surprisingly, the Thais are not at all alien to the method of conservation. True, they do not pickle tomatoes and cucumbers, but they cook the durian pulp with sugar and preserve the jam. How do durians eat in our country? There is still no clarity with this question, since the fruit is not delivered to us! Is it a shame? Maybe. But it’s logical. The product is already very specific .
Why is it worth trying the fruit?
Here is such a durian fruit! What does it smell like? Indole! This is a condensed aromatic compound, the smell of which resembles a pretty cabbage. This ingredient is responsible for the creepy smell and bactericidal properties of the product. Also, the fruit is rich in vitamins, fats and carbohydrates. It contains enough protein and a third of the daily intake of vitamin C. Durian contains nicotinic acid and minerals such as iron, phosphorus and calcium. By the way, there is another ingredient that explains what durian smells like. This is organic sulfur, which removes toxins from the body. It is also present in the composition of cells of the nervous and bone tissue. Durian is a full-fledged "energy" due to the abundance of sucrose and fructose. There are 147 calories per 100 grams of pulp, most of which are carbohydrates and water .
For food and not only
In the countries of Asia love durian. What it smells like - not so important! The main thing is that it is a useful delicacy and an effective remedy for traditional medicine. The leaves of the plant are high in mustard oil and hydroxytryptamine, which allows the fruit to be used as an antipyretic in the treatment of colds. When spilling bile, baths with fruit leaves are excellent. And the roots are an interesting antiviral agent, since the combination of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and sulfur is very effective. But perhaps the best quality of durian is the ability to rejuvenate the body and restore potency .
You need to try everything!
Going to Asian countries, you will quickly find out what a durian looks like, and then get acquainted with its taste. In any fruit shop it is easy to find green balls with spikes. The fruit is like a mutant hedgehog. Ripeness sellers determine the sound. If the sound is subtle when knocking, the fetus is not ripe. But a muffled sound speaks of ripeness. There you will probably be advised, along with durian, to buy the fruits of mangosteen, which go well with the main product. Remember that durian should not be eaten by people with high blood pressure, hypertension. Also, it is not combined with alcohol, is prohibited for use by pregnant and lactating women. Each spike of the fruit exudes a smell, so ruthlessly get rid of the peel. The pulp has the color of condensed milk. You have to eat right away. By consistency, the slices resemble cottage cheese or butter. It tastes like a banana sundae with whipped cream, vanilla and strawberries. Those who have tried this exotic fruit say that the smell becomes tolerant from the first spoon, and then does not interfere with the enjoyment of food. After tasting, it doesn’t matter how much a durian costs. You will still want to buy it again. The cost of unbroken fruit is about 100 baht per kilogram, or 165 rubles, and pure pulp from one durian chamber will cost 80 baht, or 132 rubles.