Scientific Name: Durio
Bahasa Indonesian: Durian
Batak: Durian
Basic Information:
The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio. There are 30 recognised Duriospecies, at least nine of which produce edible fruit, with over 100 named varieties in Indonesia, 300 in Thailand and 100 in Malaysia. Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market: other species are sold in their local regions. It is native to Borneo and Sumatra.
Named in some regions as the “king of fruits”, the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and thorn-covered rind. 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.
Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance, whereas others find the aroma overpowering with an unpleasant odour. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, has led to the fruit’s banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia. By contrast, the nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace 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 desserts in southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.
Health Benefits:
- It is believed that Durian can enhance libido. Recent studies show that Durian has the ability to increase sperm mobility and reduce infertility chances in both men and women.
- Durian can help lower bad cholesterol
- Very rich in carbohydrates, 100 grams of Durian is capable of offering 21% daily carb requirements and enhances the energy levels quickly
- Rich content of vitamin B complex, potassium and calcium helps to maintain healthy teeth and bones. Those who suffer from osteoporosis can eat this fruit to deal with the disease
- This stinky fruit is also known to cure insomnia. Durian is rich in tryptophan which, after entering the body, goes to brain and is converted into serotonin, producing a feeling of happiness and relaxation. This serotonin then floods the blood with melatonin, creating a feeling of tiredness and eventually makes a person fall asleep
Fun Facts:
- Although the durian is not native to Thailand, Thailand is ranked the world’s number one exporter of durian, producing around 700,000 tonnes of durian per year, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia
- Anthony Burgess, a British novelist said that eating durian was like eating berries in the lavatory
- In North Sumatra, the petal of durian flower is cooked. Durian seed is roasted, grilled or fried
- Durian is not really harvested in conventional sense. When the fruit becomes ripe, it falls off from the tree automatically. The fallen fruits are then picked up and sold. Well, given the size of the fruit, a falling Durian can be risky for any passerby. To prevent accidents, large nets are tied up with the trees at a certain height so that the falling fruits don’t lead to any mishap
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian