Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Slowly but surely, durian is being discovered by Westerners, with some craving for it!

'The first time I tasted durian was when I was posted in Kuala Lumpur 15 years ago. Trucks piled high with the fruit would come in from the Malaysian countryside, and I would spend evenings sitting with friends on plastic stools by the roadside sampling different varieties. Unlike the Thais, who cut durians down from trees, Malaysians usually wait for them to fall. The result is a much riper and stronger-tasting durian, sometimes slightly fermented. Durian farmers in Malaysia have been known to wear helmets: No one wants to be on the receiving end of a five-pound spike-bomb. Malaysians also believe that durian is an aphrodisiac. When the durians fall, the sarongs go up, goes a Malaysian saying.'

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/travel/a-love-letter-to-a-smelly-fruit.html?_r=1&

'Durian, the world's smelliest fruit, goes on sale in Britain

The prized Malaysian musang king durian has reached British shores for the first time. Are you tempted to try the pungent, custardy fruit?'

'While durians have long been available in Chinese supermarkets around Britain, this is the first time the prized Malaysian variety has been on sale in the UK, although thus far it is restricted to Loon Fung stores in London. Musang kings are left to ripen naturally on the tree; the growers spread large nets underneath and wait for them to fall. They are collected and vacuum-packed on the same day to preserve their ripeness. The fruits don't smell while still in their packaging, promises a spokesperson for Malaysia Kitchen, which promotes Malaysian food in the UK. Once you open the packaging, however, you're on your own. Do it in the garden, or at least with all the windows flung open.'

'Love them or hate them, no one wants to smell durians in a packed train carriage.'

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/feb/03/durian-worlds-smelliest-fruit-sale-britain

Well, for some time now, in Malaysia, we can even have durian white coffee!


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