The CDP August theme is Fruits and my choice of fruit is Durian.
The durian is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio.
The durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and thorn-covered rind. The fruit can grow as large as 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs 1 to 3 kg (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk from green to brown, and its flesh from 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 and unpleasant. The smell evokes reactions ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, has led some hotels and public transportation services in Southeast Asia to ban the fruit. The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and it is used to flavour a wide variety of sweet desserts and savoury dishes in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.
The outside
I am originally from singapore, and eating durians was a traditional family get together event when I was a kid. We would buy a big sack of durians and then sit on the floor to eat them.
The inside
For a period of time, we lived in a farm where there were several huge durian trees. Whenever a durian was riped, it would falloff the tree and hit the ground hard, but fortunately, it never once hit anyone under the tree, maybe these fruits usually fall at night.
The smell
A few years ago, a visit to Malaysia, a friend took us to the fruit market to eat durian. These are the photo of Max's first close encounter with durians....
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