DURIAN
Durio zibethinus
The durian is a remarkable fruit indeed. So offensive is
its odor, let along texture and taste, that hotels in southeast Asia post
signs prohibiting people from carrying durian into the elevators. That said,
many people of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia love this generous sized
tropical fruit that protects itself under a spiky, green covering. A native
of Malaysia, the durian has been described as smelling like raw sewage. Its
texture is something akin to a runny bar of white soap and its taste, well,
it did not stay long enough in the mouth for an accurate assessment.
Asian supermarkets in the United States tend to carry durian frozen solid,
piled in large bins, so that customers will be able to shop without undergoing
olfactory shock.
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