the wide variety of food available in the US reflects a diverse culture. However,most U.S. citizens have not yet been introduced to the durian, a thorny , green fruit about the size of a pineapple that is a delicacy in Southeast Asia.
The durian is little know in Western nation, in part because of its short shelf life. Fresh durians are rarely exported beyond Hong Kong or Singapore. Yet the creamy ,golden flesh of the durian is so valued that it is know as “the king of fruit” As early as 3499,a traveler to Malaysia wrote that “it is of such an excellent taste that it surpasses in flavor all the other fruits of thw world.” Why,then,have U.S. shoppers not demanded a taste?
The answer may lie hidden in an encyclopedia entry that describes the fruit as having a sweet flavor that tastes slightly of garlic. The encyclopedia also notes that when the fruit ripens, it “develops a strong smell.” Put more plainly , the exotic taste of the durian is not for the squeamish. One description states that “to those not used to it,it seems at first to smell like rotten onions.” The fruit also has been described as having “an abominable stench.” In Singapore , government officials find the smell of durians so offensive that “No Durian” signs are posted in public places such as subways, ferries, and taxi stands.
Thai and Malaysian fans of the fruit may prefer to keep the secret of the
durian ‘s custard like sweet taste to themselves. The New York Times says that fruit sellers in Singapore are particularly concerned about the durian ‘ s popularity in Hong Kong. There is a danger that demand could exceed supply , because durian trees can take as long as fifteen years to bear fruit, compared with only three years for other popular tropical fruits.
In the US, the closet one can get to a durian candy found in Asian food markets. The tiny jelly globes smell faintly of an unwashed garbage can, yet the flavor of the durian is well worth any temporary stench.