Monday, December 01, 2008

Theme Day: Durian, the King of Fruit

It's theme day, and we will see a lot of circles and spheres around the world's cities. I choose this Durian for my theme day. Durian is a native fruit to Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Some debates, this fruit is also native to Thailand and Philipines. The name durian comes from word duri (thorn). This fruit is widely known in Southeast Asia as King of Fruit. When you see, smell and taste it, you will understand why we crown this great fruit as a King.
The unusual flavour and odour of the fruit have prompted many people to express diverse and passionate views ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust. It's clear that some will fall in love with durian, and some other will hate it. Writing in 1856, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace provides a much-quoted description of the flavour of the durian:

The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the edible part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. ... as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour it is unsurpassed.
Happy theme day! Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

12 comments:

Jilly said...

Oh great choice for today! I've never tasted this fruit but have read it has a awful smell but I know people love or hate it. Looking at the number of fruit in your photograph, it looks like a very popular fruit.

Gerald (SK14) said...

Jilly has pre-empted my thoughts yet again - heard of it and its paradoxical reputation. I think I'd be prepared to try a piece if I was ever offered a taste.

Fio said...

Hahaha! Great choice :))
Greetings!

alice said...

Nice and original choice! I know this fruit and its reputation but I've never tasted it. One day, one day!

bitingmidge said...

I can smell it from here!

It's just such a magical pungent mix with heat and humidity. Great choice!

Benjamin Madison said...

Durian is disgusting but I love it.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Interesting choice and something new for my eyes.

Kris McCracken said...

Do you cook it or eat it raw?

USelaine said...

Certainly Benjamin Madison's response has not cleared up the matter for me. I'll just admire its interesting skin.

Hope said...

It sounds both delicious and disgusting at the same time....I would be willing to try it, though. I had never heard of this fruit until reading your post. Good choice for theme day.

PJ said...

The debate about durian continues. Whenever someone talks about it they say that you either love it or hate it. Someone must like it to have so much on the shelf. Happy Theme Day!

Joan Elizabeth said...

The smell is so dreadful I have never been game to taste it! But your description is so wonderful I think I should get over my misgivings and give it a try.