Durian: Fruit from Southeast Asia Smells Awful but Tastes Great

For most things, it's a love hate relationship. And for many durians, that includes the fruit that smells like skunk but tastes like heaven.

The spiny, football-size fruit with a divine custard known for its strong odor from southeast Asia is anticipated by many around the world, and regardless of its odor, the fruit is often expensive as it is not ripe for long. 

The fruit is grown in a moist, tropical climate where the trees themselves are sometimes as tall as 130 feet and are pollinated by bats, according to Smithsonian.com. Three to four months later, the fruit, each weighing a few pounds will fall down.

The fruit can be expensive because it is only ripe for a short amount of time, and it is said that only by odor can you determine if a durian is truly ripe. The durian fruit is also often used in folk medicine.

Famed naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (who, like Darwin, independently discovered the theory of natural selection) described its flesh as "a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds." This large fruit can be recognized by its thorn-covered husk and pungent odor, which has been likened to the smell of gym socks or rotten onions. That may not sound appetizing, but for those who enjoy it, it's a thick slice of heaven, according to durian.net. 

In the end, some people may just never understand the idea behind durians, and for others, it might just be an acquired taste. However, for some, despite the pungent odor, this little piece of fruit is also a little piece of heaven. 

Want to learn more about durians? Check out this video, courtesy of YouTube.