What is durian. There is a beautiful legend about the origin of this fruit. Useful properties of durian for the body

Going for a walk through Thai markets and shops, you will see a lot of bright and unusual fruits. There are many that you may not even have heard of. There is probably not a single person whose gaze would not stop at the mysterious fruit, outwardly resembling a large prickly hedgehog. That's it this "wonder of nature" has an unusual name - durian. We will talk about it in this article.

To date, 34 types of durian have been discovered, but not all of its types are allowed for consumption. Only 9 are considered edible and in most cases they have the most unpleasant odor. Durian is a fruit that can be recognized from thousands by its appearance and smell.

It has either a round or oblong shape, and its diameter reaches up to 20 centimeters. The surface of the fruit is covered with large dense spikes, which creates additional protection from curious animals. This is a rather large fruit, its weight sometimes reaches 8-9 kilograms. It is painted in light green or yellow.

Inside the fruit is an edible pulp, which can be of various colors, ranging from white to pale pink tones. Having cut the fruit, you will find 5 departments in it, approximately equal in size. In one of them seeds ripen, and the rest are filled with edible pulp.

durian season

The abundance of tropical fruits in Thailand can be observed all year round. But if you have a desire to try something new and specific, then it is worth planning the right time for a vacation here. The season when durian will be sold in all Thai markets, starts at first half of April and ends in September. Of course, even before that it can be found in various supermarkets, but only the price and quality will obviously not impress you. At the peak of the season, its price drops to 40-50 baht per kilogram, which makes it affordable for everyone.

In supermarkets, fruit prices usually range from 120-150 baht per kilogram. But again, the tastiest and freshest fruits are always sold in local markets.

The smell of durian

Durian is recognized as one of the healthiest fruits, as it contains many vitamins and minerals. But its special smell sometimes causes disgust, and many refuse to try the fruit. To a greater extent, this applies to guests of the country, as the locals treat him calmly.

The smell can be explained by the fact that durian contains sulfuric acid. Cutting the fruit, it interacts with oxygen and oxidation. Unpleasant sensations do not come immediately, it should take a few minutes. The smell of durian has been compared to anything, such as the smell of sewers, dirty socks, or rotten fish. But many generally prefer not to smell it, because its smell is so unpleasant. Resting in Thailand, you can often witness the following picture: trying to try durian for the first time, Russian tourists cover their noses with their hands.

In Thailand, as in many other countries, it is forbidden to bring durian with you to a hotel, as well as take it on a plane. The thing is that its smell is so stable that it can remain indoors for a long time and it is quite difficult to remove it from there. If the fruit gets on bedding or clothes, then they will have to be washed, as it will haunt you for a long time.

But do not worry about the fact that after eating a piece of fruit, you will have bad breath. These are all myths. If you like the fruit, eat boldly and don’t worry about anything.

Durian is such a specific fruit that it is simply impossible to give an unambiguous definition of its taste. Here we can safely say that how many people, so many opinions. For some, it resembles a cheese-nutty taste, for some, the taste of boiled onions, for some, it causes the most unpleasant associations. Some, after tasting it, get such delight that they are ready to eat it all the time, for others - the desire for further tasting disappears after the first small piece. We can definitely say only that durian will not be able to leave anyone indifferent.

The taste of durian reminded me of potatoes with garlic and rotten cabbage. I was never able to love this fruit and I find it disgusting in smell and taste.

The inhabitants of Thailand almost all compare its flavor with a sweet cream, which includes an egg and milk. Perhaps in connection with this, he received the unofficial name "King of all fruits."

Beneficial features

You can talk about the benefits of durian for hours. And this is no coincidence, because it contains all the most necessary vitamins and minerals. To a greater extent, it is potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, vitamins of groups B, A, C. Please note that this is one of the most high-calorie fruits, 147 kcal per 100 grams of the product. After eating a small piece of fruit in the morning, you can forget about food for several hours.

Due to its unique composition, durian is able to normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system, improve digestion, increase immunity, and it also acts as a sedative.

The estrogens in durian increase women's chances of getting pregnant. Also, this fruit is useful for men.

Durian pulp can raise body temperature, which is why it should not be combined with alcohol.

The scope of the fruit in Thailand is very wide. On its basis, various ice creams, sweets, pastries, toothpaste, coffee and much more are produced.

How to choose the right durian?

When choosing a ripe juicy durian fruit, you should not pay special attention to its peel. The fact is that there are several varieties of this fruit, and not always the green peel will speak of its immaturity. There are several rules to follow when choosing:

Give preference to those fruits on which cracks appear. This will indicate that he is fully matured and begins to open himself.
The smell of the fruit should be slightly tart.
The inside of a ripe and fresh durian will always be tender and soft.
If you find a durian tree, then you should take those fruits that themselves fell. That's when you get the juicy fruit.
When tapping on the peel, a dull sound should appear. This will speak of maturity.

When purchasing an already cut fruit, carefully look at its pulp. It should have a delicate shade and not contain any spots on itself. Its color is usually light yellow or slightly beige.

The most correct option for acquiring a fruit is to choose a whole fruit. But in this case, ask the seller to clean and cut it for you. Remember that the more durian is cut, the richer and more unpleasant its smell will be.

How to peel and eat durian?

Since this fruit still remains exotic for us, it’s easier to buy it in the market and let it be cut for you there.

After splitting the hard shell, the pulp is taken out on a plate or in a special plastic container. It is most convenient to eat durian with a spoon, but the locals manage to cope with this task perfectly without it.

It is not advisable to eat fruit at night, as it has a tonic property and sometimes it is difficult to fall asleep.

Store durian in a separate container, tightly packed. If you leave it open in the refrigerator, then all other products will be saturated with its smell.

Contraindications

The first thing you should pay attention to when using durian is that it is absolutely incompatible with alcohol. Not only can the fruit not be washed down with these drinks, but it is also not advisable to drink alcohol for at least 3-4 hours after the fruit.
It is not advisable to eat more than 200 grams of fruit in one day. If you are trying it for the first time, then do not combine durian with other products.
Allergies may occur, resulting in a rash, runny nose, and in rare cases swelling of the nasopharynx. Therefore, start your acquaintance with the fruit with a small piece.
Durian can increase blood pressure. Having a tendency to such problems, you should refrain from tasting the fruit.

Thailand is a country of exotic fruits. And what could be better than trying something new and unusual. Do not deny yourself pleasure. You may not like durians as much as I do, or maybe you will get a new favorite treat in a tropical country. Also read about others, among them there are many unusual and incredibly tasty.

Modern man is characterized by the desire for everything exotic. This is manifested in various areas of life, including in relation to food. One of the most extravagant and extraordinary fruits is the durian. He is recognized as the king of fruits and looks quite unusual. What is it, what does an unusual fruit look like, what are its benefits and harms, how to choose it and eat it - let's figure it out.

What it is?

Durian civet belongs to the genus of evergreen tropical plants of the Malvaceae family. To date, about 30 varieties of this fruit are known, which grow in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. These plants are large trees with weak branching. They have prop roots and regular leaves. It is noteworthy that only 9 of the known 30 varieties are suitable for food.

Description

Durian flowers are large, whitish or reddish depending on the variety. They can develop not only on branches, but also on trunks. They are pollinated not only by bees, but also by bats, since durian blooms from dusk to night for no more than 8 hours. The fruit of the plant is distinguished by a particularly hard shell with characteristic spines. This feature allows you to protect the unripe fruit from animals. It is because of its appearance that the fruit got its name, which means “thorn” or “thorn” in translation.

Despite the fact that it grows not only in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Indochina, but also in South America, Asian fruit is in great demand among gourmets. It is grown in a more comfortable climate, ripens from spring to the end of the summer season. It is harvested when the fruits themselves fall to the ground. According to the general description, in terms of dimensions, durian reaches the parameters of a soccer ball. Weight varies from 2 to 10 kg, the shape is often elongated. Sometimes the fruit even reaches a length of up to 30 cm, while the diameter can be 20–25 cm.

No matter how big a durian may seem, more than half of its weight is in the peel than in the juicy flesh. The inside of the durian has white walls and is divided into segments. In each "compartment" there are 3-4 yellowish seeds. As a rule, inside the fetus there are 5 compartments, approximately the same in size. Four of them are filled with pulp, and the bones are located in the fifth.

Peculiarities

A distinctive feature of the fruit is the fact that it has a disgusting smell. Therefore, few people immediately believe that durian can be eaten. It smells so bad that you can't take it into public places with you. It is not only impossible to go to a store or take a taxi with it: the ban even applies to transportation in an elevator, as evidenced by a special sign of a fruit crossed out with a red line. This is explained by the fact that the fetid spirit of the Thai fruit cannot be weathered by any means. That is why exotic durian can neither be stored nor transported. The stench is so terrible that it is difficult to describe it, but the pulp itself has a divine taste, for which durian is called the king of fruits.

The taste of a ripe fruit with a smooth texture is sweet. It is rich, like a mixture of banana, mango, pineapple, papaya and vanilla. As for the smell of the shell itself, it can be compared with a mixture of the “aroma” of sewerage, rotten fish and rotten meat, or a putrid smell. It even seems to some that in this stink one can distinguish the smells of a ton of rotten onions, because some tourists have tears when they meet durian. As for the amount of pulp inside the fruit, there is not very much of it: a lot falls on a thick peel with spikes. The flesh of a ripe fruit itself does not have spots, it is of the same consistency and color.

Composition and calories

The fetid smell of durian is explained by the presence of sulfuric acid in the composition of the fruit. An exotic fruit is saturated with proteins, fats and carbohydrates, it contains many vitamins, and its absence of cholesterol distinguishes it. Delicious pulp is rich in ascorbic, nicotinic and folic acids. It contains niacin, carotene, riboflavin, calcium, iron and phosphorus. As for calories, one hundred grams of durian contains 145 kilocalories. These data are typical for raw and frozen fruit. However, an excess of durian in food can cause obesity.

Benefit and harm

Unusual Thai fruit has certain beneficial properties. For example, having organic sulfur in its composition, durian is rightfully recognized as one of the unique exotic fruits. Indole, which is the source of organic sulfur, is especially necessary for the human body, as it has bactericidal properties. Thanks to the dietary fiber, durian is effective for constipation. It perfectly absorbs water, due to which peristalsis is accelerated and carcinogens are excreted from the body. This nuance helps to prevent bowel cancer.

Durian is also effective against anemia, as it is a preventive measure. It improves the condition of hair and skin, and also has a positive effect on strengthening bones and the thyroid gland. In addition, it helps in the treatment of diabetes and has a positive effect on the digestive system. And also an exotic fruit is good for migraines and depressive states. Being an unsurpassed aphrodisiac and containing a huge amount of estrogens, durian is responsible for the normalization of female hormonal levels, which is important for every woman. It is worth noting that this affects not only the general condition of the woman, but also her fertility.

It is also good for men's health. Durian can be used as a remedy to help restore energy. It not only helps to cleanse the skin, but also gives it elasticity and firmness. Due to the content of phosphorus in the pulp in combination with potassium, it not only strengthens teeth, but also treats some gum diseases. In addition, the use of an unusual fruit has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

However, in addition to the beneficial properties for the human body, durian also has negative aspects. For example, no matter how tasty it may seem, and no matter how much you want to eat it, it is contraindicated for pregnant women. In addition, it should not be used while breastfeeding. The use of durian can also affect pressure, so hypertensive patients need to eat the pulp of the fetus with extreme caution. Otherwise, it is fraught with sudden pressure surges.

There are other restrictions, if ignored, the use of durian can cause significant harm to health. For example, you need to take into account not only incompatibility with alcohol, but also the time period between which you can not drink after drinking durian. As a rule, in order not to harm your health, you need to wait at least four hours. In addition, you need to understand that the fetus cannot completely replace any meal.

You can’t eat more than two hundred grams at a time, combining fruit with other foods. And also it is impossible not to take into account the likelihood of individual intolerance and an allergic reaction. There is evidence for this: in some cases, there is a rash, an allergic rhinitis, and even swelling of the nasopharynx.

How to choose?

Despite the fact that durian has a rather high cost (about 5-20 US dollars), tourists rarely manage to avoid the temptation to taste the exotic. Sometimes this fruit is sold already peeled on a substrate. However, not every fruit has a true divine taste. In order not to get into trouble, and not to be disappointed with the fruit, which even in its native country cannot be transported and exported once again, it is worth considering the following nuances:

a ripe fruit differs from others in that it is split; if its peel began to crack (mainly into 5 slices), then this is the first sign of a good fruit;
as soon as the peel cracks, the fruit begins to exude aroma, while it is the edible part of the durian (its pulp) that smells;
if a rotten part is seen on one side, such a fruit is not suitable for eating, moreover, its pulp will have clots, which should not be in a good ripe product;
to buy a good fruit, you should look at the peel at the location of the tail, you can even sniff it: the more pronounced the aroma, the riper the fruit;

the peel of a ripe durian differs in the color of the thorns - in a good ripe fruit they are yellow with brown tips;
you can pay attention to the mobility of the thorns - if the fruit is unripe, when touched they remain motionless, in a ripe fruit they are slightly mobile;
you can determine the ripeness by the sound, for which it would be useful to tap on the casing - a dull sound will indicate immaturity, while the one you need will be accompanied by loud sounds and a characteristic internal gurgling.

The flesh of a ripe fruit differs in appearance, the ripened fruit is soft when pressed and slightly squeezed. In terms of density, it resembles raw dough. Someone even associates with cream whipped with fruit.

When buying, you can ask the seller to peel and cut the fruit. An experienced seller is usually interested in buyers, so he will try to pick the best fruit. As for transportation, a tourist will not be able to bring a piece of exotic to their homeland: durian cannot be exported, they will not be allowed on a plane with it.

How to eat?

In fact, it would be erroneous to call categorically eating durian with a spoon. Everyone experiences fruit differently. Many, because of the hostility of a bad smell, completely pinch their nose, and at this time they put a piece of pulp in their mouth. It is worth considering that this fruit is not combined with vodka, so you can’t drink it with it. No matter how much you want to feel like a gourmet, the fruit is not combined with alcohol at all. Ignoring this nuance can cause severe irritation of the stomach.

The fruit itself can be eaten not only fresh. It is often boiled, and also added to national dishes. It has a peculiar taste that everyone associates with different products. If it seems to some that it is airy cheese, then others are sure that it even looks like vanilla pastries. They eat durian in the first 3-4 hours after purchase, while trying not to bring it into the room.

If you do not want to use a spoon, you can break off pieces of tender pulp with your hands. Often, durian is put into cocktails, cut into slices. The dried fruit is also popular with tourists. It does not smell so sharp, so it does not scare off buyers. In cooking, the fruit is also used as a seasoning for various dishes. To do this, take not the pulp, but the seeds. When the pulp is taken out, one of the shells is used for salted water, which is washed down with durian. Among the various recipes, pies with an unusual fruit filling are noteworthy, for which chopped pieces of fruit are used.

As for gourmets, after several trials, they stop noticing the unpleasant smell and assure that the taste interrupts all negative emotions. They are sure that in order to fully reveal the taste qualities, it is necessary to drink durian with lightly salted water. In addition, marinated marinated durian in coconut milk is considered one of the best desserts. If at the time of purchase it turned out that the fruit has not yet ripened, do not be upset. Of course, it will not be possible to reveal all its taste qualities, but it is quite suitable for food.

In this case, it can be used as a vegetable. For example, it will be delicious if stewed, fried and served with a side dish.

How to reveal?

If the fruit is purchased unopened, you will have to do the cleaning process yourself. The bottom line is to crack open the hard shell and take out the pulp. Previously, a regular plate or a plastic container is prepared for it. The pulp is taken out with a spoon or by hand and transferred to a prepared container. If you do not plan to eat durian right away, it is better to use a container, transferring the tasty part of the fruit there and tightly closing the container.

Is there any way to store and transport?

With regard to fresh fruit, we can say unequivocally: no. If the fruit is open, eat it immediately. It will not work in any way, it is useless even to wrap it in layers of a thin film - it will not retain its qualities. Despite the fact that there is an opinion to the contrary, which indicates a period of 5 days of storage. Freezing the fruit is also not recommended, because, in addition to the loss of useful properties, it will also lose its excellent taste. However, in dried form, like candy or even candied fruits, the fruit is quite transportable.

In addition to the fact that in such options you can export durians from exotic countries, they will also be stored for a long time. Therefore, upon arrival home, it will be possible to treat the household with extra-tasty desserts.

What else is interesting durian?

Durian can reach a height of up to 40 meters. These trees are quite spreading. The fruit is considered a national delicacy for children. On holidays, it is important to eat it with the whole family in one sitting. This eating is elevated to a certain ritual, besides, the fruit is given healing and rejuvenating power. In Thai culture, it is considered a medicine.

The pulp of the fruit will allow you to create unusually delicious milkshakes. In addition to dried fruits and chips, it is added to ice cream. You can fry it like a regular potato. It is added to pumpkin, fish soups and even cooked as jam. At the same time, in the national cuisine it is a fairly common component of the recipe. It is delicious with sweets, sugar, and salt along with other vegetables.

Important! Sickness of smell in different subspecies of durian is different. The size of the fruits also varies, with the smaller ones smelling less strongly. The arrangement of the bones also differs.

Difference from jackfruit

Durian is often confused with jackfruit, because outwardly there really is a resemblance. However, there are differences from jackfruit. For example, its spikes are not so pronounced, and it weighs more. In addition, it is considered the fruit of the breadfruit, reaches up to 30 kg of weight and has a pear-shaped shape. And also one of the differences is the fact that jackfruit has milky juice, which determines its stickiness and viscosity. At the same time, not only the pulp is saturated with juice, but also the peel itself. Wash your hands after contact with such a substance more often with oil.

Durian is rightfully considered one of the strangest exotic fruits of mysterious Thailand. Having, to put it mildly, an unpleasant smell, he proudly bears the title "king of fruits." Where did such an honorary nickname come from, where amazing fruits grow, and we will find out other interesting details together.

Where does it grow

Durio zibethinus (the Latin name for the tree) grows not only in Thailand. For industrial purposes, trees are bred in India, Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka and a number of other countries.

Durian is the fruit of a tree of the same name, belonging to the Malvaceae family. The tree grows tall, can reach a height of more than forty-six meters. True, only wild trees grow to such indicators, cultivated seedlings are constantly broken off and pruned.

The crown of the tree and the trunk are densely covered with bright green glossy leaves, during the flowering period the tree produces large white and strong-smelling flowers. These amazing flowers bloom at night and exude an intoxicating scent that attracts bats. It is the mice that pollinate the plant.

After the flowering period comes the period of fruit growth. On durian, they grow large - up to 20-30 centimeters in length. And the weight of one copy can reach four to five kilograms.

From above, the fruit is covered with a hard peel, which is also dotted with long and sharp spikes, and in order to get to the tasty pulp, the shell must be broken. When fully ripe, the shell splits itself into five pieces. An exotic fruit can have flesh of different colors - from white to pink. The pulp is heterogeneous, large seeds are clearly visible in it.

What does durian smell like?

This question is asked by people who have heard a lot about exotic fruits, but have never tried them.

Indeed, the fruit (or rather, its pulp) has a sharp and persistent smell that cannot be called appetizing or even tolerable. Those who have had time to taste the fruits of durian describe the smell as a cocktail of the most unpleasant aromas - the smell of rotten fish, sewage, animal droppings. And some wits even compare the amber from the fruits with the smell of unwashed socks. Such a strong and unpleasant aroma was the reason why Durio zibethinus is strictly forbidden to be brought into public places - transport, hotels, airports.

But gourmets and connoisseurs know that the smell and taste largely depend on the variety, as well as on maturity. For example, the fruits of the durian tree Mera even smell delicious - roasted almonds. However, the cebitin variety is still more valued - the owner of unbearable amber and divine taste.

What is the reason for such a strong and unpleasant smell exuded by durian?

There is a whole legend about the smell of fruits, according to which the once powerful and strong king fell in love with a young beauty. But his love was not reciprocated - the king was old. Then the lord decided to conquer the heart of the beauty with magic: he turned to the sorcerer and he gave him an amazing fruit, saying that if the girl eats at least a piece of delicacy, she will definitely give her heart to the old king.

The king did just that: he invited the young beauty to dinner and treated her to the gift of a sorcerer. The magic worked: the girl fell head over heels in love with the old king. The lord's happiness was boundless, and he completely forgot to thank the sorcerer for his help. And he was angry at the forgetfulness of the king and cursed his own gift. When the lord again appeared for the magical durian in the witching forest, he was disappointed. Instead of a gentle and intoxicating smell, the king was greeted by an unbearable and unbearable stench. The beauty soon fell out of love with the old man and married a young and brave warrior.

Such is the legend of bad smell. But there is a scientific explanation for such a fetid amber. The pulp of an exotic delicacy contains organic sulfur in abundance.

Taste qualities

It is difficult to describe them in words. Some compare the taste of durian with the most delicate custard, someone says that its pulp is similar to creamy or vanilla ice cream. So, in order to understand and appreciate the taste of the king of fruits, you must definitely try it.

Attention! You need to eat only fully ripened, but not overripe specimens. Unripe fruits have a bitter, pungent and unpleasant taste.

Durian is eaten with a spoon, avoiding touching it with your hands, otherwise the fetid amber will be absorbed into the skin. It is almost impossible to wash off the smell - it will last for several days.

Even pre-soaking fruits in milk or saline does not help to remove amber; it is useless to ventilate or wash the room. For this reason, durian is recommended not to be stored for a long time, but to be eaten immediately after purchase.

Beneficial features

Durian is widely used in traditional Thai medicine. The fruit is given for fevers accompanied by high fever, an ointment is prepared from the leaves of the durian tree for skin diseases and allergies, the peel is used to prepare a decoction that is given to women in labor for a quick recovery.

"King of fruits" is also valued for the abundance of antioxidants in the composition and as a natural aphrodisiac. It is used not only by folk healers: different parts of the durian tree are added to the composition of homeopathic remedies by the world's most famous pharmaceutical brands.

Contraindications for use

Eating exotic with caution is necessary for hypertension. Also, she should not be abused by pregnant and lactating women: firstly, in the sweet pulp there are substances that are undesirable for consumption during these important periods of a woman's life, and secondly, the sweet fruit delicacy is the strongest allergen.

Today you will not surprise anyone with a variety of exotic fruits.

In our article we will talk about what durian is and how it is eaten, what it is, how it affects a person.

What does durian look like and where does it grow?

Durian is represented by an evergreen plant with spreading branches. The tree can reach 40 meters in height. It has leathery, shiny pointed leaves. The upper part of the foliage is smooth, and there is a small pile below.
On the trunk and twigs that hang down, there are flower half-umbrellas with cups that look like bells. Flowering is short and lasts for several hours. During this period, the tree is covered with white, pink or golden flowers with a sour smell.

Fruits begin to ripen in early spring, and fruiting ends at the end of summer. Now you know how durian grows and it's time to learn more about its fruits.

The fruits are spherical in shape, their diameter is 30 cm, and their weight is up to 10 kg. From above, the fruit is covered with a thickened shell and spines in the form of small pyramids. Inside the fruit box there are seeds, the size of which is from 2 to 6 cm.

They are red-brown or pale yellow in color. They have thick flesh with a creamy yellow tint.

A lot of talk revolves around what the durian smells like: the unripe fruit has the smell of fresh green grass, but as it ripens, the smell becomes corrosive, sweetish-putrefactive.
The terrible smell was the reason for the introduction of some prohibitions in Asian countries. So, durian is forbidden to be transported in transport, stored in hotels, supermarkets and appear with it in public places.

It is forbidden to export fruit from Thailand - this is prescribed in the special laws of the country. Due to the specific smell and original taste, tourists can only enjoy durian within the resort.

The birthplace of an unusual fruit is the southern regions of Thailand. The tree has been growing in these areas for 6 centuries. Durian cultivation is practiced in Malaysia, India and Indochina. There are about 30 types of exotic fruit, but only 6 of them can be eaten.

Calorie content and chemical composition

Durian is a fruit that contains a huge amount of, and elements. The calorie content of durian per 100 g of edible product is 147 kcal.
Among them, 1.47 g of protein, 5.33 g of fat, 23.29 g of carbohydrates, 65.99 g of water, 3.8 g of dietary fiber, 1.12 g of ash.

Did you know? In honor of the unusual plant, a monument was erected in the southern Philippine town of Davao.

Durian contains:

copper;

In addition, the fruit is a storehouse of vitamins. It contains vitamins, B9 and.

What is useful durian

The durian fruit has the following health benefits:

Helps to reduce. The pulp contains many fibers that perfectly absorb moisture, swell and help accelerate intestinal motility.
Helps prevent anemia. Due to the presence of vitamin B9 in the composition, the fruit helps prevent the development of anemia. Vitamin contributes to the production of red blood cells and other blood cells.
Improves condition. The vitamin C found in durian is essential for the production that our skin, bones, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels need. Under its influence, wounds heal well.
Strengthens bones. A high content allows you to save the necessary doses in the body. Potassium is involved in the nutrition of bone tissue, prevents bone fragility.
Prevents. Thanks to manganese, blood sugar levels are normalized, and the functioning of the endocrine system improves.
Improves thyroid function. The fruits contain copper, which regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland, metabolic processes and is involved in reproduction.
Normalizes work. Thanks to thiamine, the production of hydrochloric acid is normalized and improved, which contributes to better digestion of food.
Fights migraines. Riboflavin will help eliminate migraine caused by an attack.
Eliminates. The high concentration of tryptophan and vitamin B6 in durian allows you to quickly get rid of depressive states.
Helps strengthen teeth. The fruits contain phosphorus, which will provide your teeth and gums.

Also, the substances that are part of the fruit contribute to an increase, strengthen the heart muscle and normalize blood pressure.

Did you know? The glass roof of the Esplanade Theater in Singapore is constructed from triangular-shaped aluminum solar panels and looks very much like an unusual fruit. That is why the theater has a second name - "The giant Durians".

Application in cooking

An unpleasant smell is not an obstacle to the use of fruit in cooking. The pulp can be eaten fresh, it is used to make jellies and fine desserts.

The pulp is used to make original fillings for baking, it is used as an additional ingredient in ice cream and drinks. In some countries, it is a product that is very tasty, it can also be boiled or fried.

Not only the pulp appears in the recipes, the seeds of the plant are often used as a seasoning for dishes.

How to choose when buying

Finding fresh fruit on store shelves is not an easy task, one might even say impossible. However, if you find yourself, for example, in Thailand, you will need some tips for choosing a durian:

The most delicious and ripe fruit is considered to be the one that itself fell from the tree.
If you do not plan to eat the fruit immediately after purchase, then it is better to purchase a whole rather than cut.
You can set the ripeness by smell - if it is absent, then you have an unripe fruit in front of you.
Tap on the peel - if the fruit is ripe and tasty, the sound should be deaf.
The peel should not contain dark spots, the spines should be of the same size and shape.

If you are impatient to try the fruit, you should ask the seller to cut it - after pressing on the pulp, it will quickly return to its original shape. Also pay attention to the color - the flesh should be yellow.

How to eat it

Most often, the fruit is consumed fresh - so you can fully enjoy its taste. When it comes to what durian tastes like, people's opinions differ. To some, it resembles the taste of fried onions, while others compare it with whipped cream and almonds.

Important! It is not recommended to eat overripe fruit, as the processes of decay and fermentation have already begun in it. The pulp of an overripe fruit can be determined by the presence of bitterness in taste.

In order to get to the pulp, you will have to do some manipulations:

take a long sharp knife and stick it into the durian to a depth of 8-10 cm;
then, using your fingers, try to separate it into parts. You will receive 2 halves;
using a knife, you need to make a deep incision in the fibrous section;
then it is worth separating the chopped pieces from each other;
the pulp must be scraped off the peel;
now you can enjoy the taste of fresh pulp.

Many are interested in the question why durian should not be eaten with alcohol.

When combining these products in almost all cases, an upset stomach occurs, the mouth begins to smell bad. However, these are not the most terrible manifestations of the joint use of pulp with.

Did you know? There is a legend about how a tropical fruit acquired an unpleasant odor. The elderly king was in love with the young beauty without reciprocity, and in order to attract her attention, he went to the magician, who gave him an unusual fruit, which the king was supposed to treat to his beloved. Having tasted the durian, the beauty fell in love with the king, but he forgot to thank the magician for this, and the magician, angry, cursed the durian. But, despite the fetid peel, it still contained a delicious delicacy.

Durian has the ability to increase blood pressure, and given the intense heat and the unpredictability of the reaction of substances produced by the fetus in the human body, the simultaneous use of durian and alcohol can have disastrous consequences.

How to store at home

Durian is highly perishable, so it is best to eat it immediately after purchase. The maximum storage period is 5 days.

We bring to your attention some useful tips for storing the fruit:

If you do not plan to eat it on the day of purchase, it is better to buy an unripe fruit. Wrap it in 4-5 layers of cellophane, and before you decide to sit down, unfold and leave for 1-2 days at room temperature.
The cut fruit is not subject to storage - it is consumed immediately.
Durian can be frozen, but after defrosting, its flesh will become too soft and lose its taste.
It is best to store the pulp by making jams or jams from it. Such a product will always be in demand and tasty.

After reading our article, you learned what durian fruit is, how to eat it correctly. Despite its specific smell, the fruit is very healthy and will help strengthen the immune system.

In Thailand, you can find many amazing representatives of edible tropical flora. And yet, one of the strangest fruits of Southeast Asia is durian. It can safely be considered the most unusual fruit on the planet. Thais even call durian "king of fruits". Why is this "gift of the tropics" so highly appreciated by admirers and what is unusual about it? Let's look for answers to these questions together.

Botanical description of durian

The durian plant is a straight-stemmed tree, reaching a height of 46 meters in the wild (the growth of grafted cultivated plant species is much lower). The trunk is covered with regular leaves. The upper surface of the leaves is glossy and green, the lower surface is bronze-silver. Like many tropical plants, durian blooms at night. Its white flowers are arranged in clusters of 3-30; their strong fragrance attracts flocks of small bats (Eonycteris spelea) that pollinate the tree.

Durian fruits grow up to 30 cm long. Their weight often exceeds 5 kilograms. The pulp of an exotic fruit is hidden under a thorn-studded greenish brown hard shell (shell). During maturation, the durian shell splits into five segments, revealing a pinkish, yellowish or creamy white flesh, inside of which are large seeds.

Taste and smell of durian

Durian pulp has a stable smell, "glorifying" this fruit. Strong and sharp, this "aroma" is reminiscent of the stink of rotten fish and sewage with hints of garlic. The smell of durian is described as “a mixture of onions, turpentine and pig droppings”, “the aroma of an athletic hall decorated with dirty socks”, “the basement of a house with a “break through” sewer a month ago”. Thanks to this smell in Thailand it is forbidden to bring raw durian into hotels, ground public transport and airports.

The taste of durian ... Here lies the secret of the "coronation" of the Thai fruit. The pulp of durian is unusually tasty - it's hard to believe if you believe only the sense of smell. She has a spicy sweet taste, to many reminiscent of vanilla ice cream or custard. Thais say that durian is the best illustration of the concept of Yang-Yin: good and evil, hell and heaven, contained in one object or being. Many people say about durian: "The taste of heaven, the smell of hell."

The "aroma" of durian depends on the type or variety of the plant. For example, Durio dulcis (red durian) smells like caramel and turpentine, while Durio graveolens (durian Mera) smells like roasted almonds. The degree of maturity of the durian affects the taste and smell. It is also believed that Thai varieties of the most common, civet durian, have a sweeter taste and less "characteristic" smell than Malay ones. Therefore, acquaintance with the "king of fruits" is worth starting in Thailand!

In total, about 30 species of durian are known. Only eight can be eaten:

civet durian (Durio zibethinus);
munjit (Durio grandiflorus);
red durian (Durio dulcis);
Durian Kulu (Durio kutejensis);
charian (Durio lowianus);
chicken chicken (Durio testudinarius);
keratogan (Durio oxleyanus).

The durian "habitat" zone is the near-equatorial belt. Originating in Malaysia and Indonesia, the plant has spread widely and is now cultivated in Cambodia, Australia, and India. Dominica, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Zanzibar and Thailand. For good growth durian requires tropical climate- the average annual air temperature is not lower than +22°C with a relatively large amount of precipitation (1500 - 2000 mm).

durian legends

There is an old legend explaining the appearance of a specific smell durian. It tells about an elderly king who fell in love with a young beauty. Not counting on reciprocity, the ruler took the help of the magician. The wizard gave the king an amazing fruit and told him to treat the girl to it. The lover did just that. The beauty tried the durian (and it was he) and immediately fell in love with the king. The pleased ruler enjoyed her love, forgetting to thank the magician. The wizard decided to take revenge on the king and cursed the durian. When the king came to him for a new portion of the most delicate delicacy, disappointment awaited him - a mountain of foul-smelling fruits lay on the ground. Angered, the ruler began to throw durians on the ground. One of the fruits split and revealed the secret: behind the fetid shell, there was still delicious pulp ...

Useful properties of durian

Durian is not only tasty, but also very useful fruit. The substances contained in its pulp have antioxidant properties and are aphrodisiacs. The antipyretic effect of durian has been laboratory confirmed.

In Thai medicine, durian pulp is used as an anthelmintic, leaf juice - for fevers and hepatitis, peel ash - after childbirth, leaf decoctions - for skin diseases and rashes. As early as the beginning of the last century, an American company Durian Fruit Products , Inc has released a dietary supplement "Dur-India", which contributes to the concentration of good energy in the body.

Durian and alcohol: is it possible to combine the consequences

In Thailand, durian is not advised to be used by people suffering from high blood pressure, pregnant women and with individual intolerance. Do not combine durian with alcohol- the consequences are the most unpleasant: in the best case, this causes an upset stomach and is accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the mouth, but there is a danger, coupled with humidity and heat, of a strong jump in blood pressure, up to death, because. alcohol and the substances that make up durian enter into a certain reaction, as a result of which a substance is produced that uncontrollably and very quickly causes a powerful jump in blood pressure in a person.

Durian: how to use

In Thailand, durian is widely used in cooking. The pulp of the fruit is most often served as a dessert. The seeds are used as a seasoning. Durian is added to ice cream and milkshakes, sweets, cookies and sauces. They make chips out of it. Sometimes the fruit is fried like potatoes and served with coffee.

Salads are prepared from young durian leaves. In some provinces, flower petals are eaten. In the Moluccas, durian husks are used to smoke fish.

How to store durian

Durian is a perishable product, so it is advisable to eat it on the day of purchase. If you need to "keep" durian longer, then you should not store it next to other fruits. At room temperature, the shelf life of the “king of fruits” is no more than five days.