Durian - King Of Fruits
It's that time of the year again in Asia when the much revered and reviled fruit, the durian, is in season. If you've never come across the durian, it is a large spiky fruit somewhat resembling a bulbous cactus.
Here's a quote showing the reverential awe it can inspire:
The taste is certainly very unique, being both appealing and slightly repulsive at the same time. It does make a great filling for a dessert, especially when cooked in durian tarts or inside pancakes. Raw durian can be very strong, and is equivalent to eating garlic - it's a taste you'll find repeating on you throughout the day.
What about the smell? Some say the smell is heavenly, others say it is like rotting flesh. Here's a selection of great quotes:
Supermarkets here in Guangzhou have a dedicated durian counter. Long queues of people line up at these counters in order to get the freshest possible durian. A skilled durian picker uses a curved blade to pop the skin open, scooping out the strange yellow nuggets of durian meat, which are then placed into a plastic tray and covered with a plastic film.
The smell is so strong and distinct that it is not unusual for hotels to ban the fruit from their rooms, and to actually charge a cleansing fee should sneak them in:
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