The durian is the fruit of trees from the genus Durio belonging to the Bombacaceae. Widely known and revered in Southeast Asia as the “King of Fruits”, the fruit is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Regarded by some as fragrant, others as overpowering and offensive, the smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The odour has led to the fruit’s banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia.

The durian, native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, has been known to the western world for about 600 years. The British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace famously described its flesh as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds” in the 19th century. The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet edibles in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked. The name durian comes from the Malay word duri (thorn) with suffix -an.

There are 30 recognised Durio species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market: other species are sold in their local regions. There are hundreds of durian cultivars; most of them have a common name and a code number starting with “D”. Many consumers express preferences for specific cultivars, which fetch higher prices in the market.

I used to watch shows like Bizarre Foods and No Reservations all the time.  Every time the hosts were in Asian countries, they always had durians.  The host of Bizarre Foods, a man who will eat the grossest of gross things, spit out durian– a seemingly harmless fruit.

I was totally fascinated and have wanted to try durians ever since I saw it featured on these shows.  My chance to try it came this weekend when we were in Sacramento spending Tofurkey Day with the family.  My hubby and I found some at an Asian market and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally try it.

First, the smell.  When you cut into the durian, the smell is horrible.  My dad and Matt couldn’t smell it at all, but my mom and I could.  The smell is very faint, but gross.  The best way to describe it is a stinky fart smell covered up by the aroma of a lit match.  There is definitely a sulfurous funk.

Splitting the durian open reveals a gooey, light yellow inside that is soft like a custard.  The taste is nothing like I’ve ever had before.  It is disgusting!  The only way I can describe the taste is this:  if I were to assign a flavor to a gross, sulfurous-smelling fart, it would be durian fruit.  Why people eat this is beyond me, but I’m happy to have had the chance to finally try it.  Interested in seeing me take a bite?  Check out the video: