Show By Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD — Updated on May 31, 2019
Durian is a unique tropical fruit. It’s popular in Southeast Asia, where it’s nicknamed “the king of fruits.” Durian is very high in nutrients, containing more than most other fruits. However, it also gets a bad rap due to its strong smell. This article tells you everything you need to know about durian. Share on Pinterest Durian is a tropical fruit distinguished by its large size and spiky, hard outer shell. It has a pungent smell, custard-like flesh with large seeds. There are several varieties, but the most common one is Durio zibethinus. The fruit’s flesh can range in color. It’s most commonly yellow or white, but can also be red or green. Durian grows in tropical regions around the world, particularly in the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The fruit can grow up to 1 foot (30 cm) long and 6 inches (15 cm) wide. A typical durian fruit has about 2 cups (486 grams) of edible pulp. SUMMARY Durian is used in sweet and savory dishes. Both the creamy flesh and seeds are edible, though the seeds need to be cooked. The flavor is described as tasting like cheese, almonds, garlic, and caramel all at once. Common food preparations of durian fruit include:
It’s also used in traditional medicine and has some medicinal properties that are currently being studied. SUMMARY Durian is very high in nutrients compared to most other fruits. One cup (243 grams) of pulp provides (1):
This nutrient profile makes durian one of the most nutritious fruits worldwide. It’s also rich in healthy plant compounds, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. Many of these function as antioxidants (2). SUMMARY All parts of the durian plant — leaves, husk, roots, and fruit — have been used in traditional Malaysian medicine to treat various illnesses, including high fever, jaundice, and skin conditions (2). Studies suggest that durian fruit offers the following health benefits (2, 3):
While these studies show promise, many have been done on animals or in test tubes. No solid claims can be made until the health benefits of durian have been confirmed by controlled studies in people. SUMMARY Consuming durian at the same time as alcohol can cause problems (2). Scientists believe that sulfur-like compounds in durian may prevent certain enzymes from breaking down alcohol, causing increased alcohol levels in your blood. This could lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and heart palpitations (2). To be safe, avoid eating durian and drinking alcohol at the same time. SUMMARY Opening a durian’s hard, spiky shell often requires gloves or mitts to protect your hands. You need to cut the shell with a knife and pry it open with your hands before gently removing the durian flesh. You can then eat it fresh on its own, paired with sticky rice, or as an ingredient in various dishes. You can find tutorials on how to open a durian fruit, as well as many recipes, online. The flesh is also sold frozen, which slightly changes its texture, making it looser and more stringy. Durian is also used in prepared foods, such as candy. Yet, while this may give you a sample of its flavor, it won’t provide you with the health benefits. SUMMARY Opinions are mixed about durian’s smell. Some people love it, while others hate it. The smell is very strong and has been described as a combination of sulfur, sewage, fruit, honey, and roasted and rotting onions. A study on the aromatic compounds in durian found 44 active compounds, including some that contribute to scents of skunk, caramel, rotten egg, fruit, and soup seasoning (4). The fruit’s smell is so potent that it’s banned in many hotels and public transport systems in Southeast Asia. Your impression of the fruit depends on whether you smell the sweet-smelling or pungent compounds more strongly. SUMMARY Durian fruit is incredibly high in healthy nutrients, including B vitamins, vitamin C, minerals, plant compounds, healthy fats, and fiber. However, the smell and taste may not be for everyone. In this section you will find information about cookies that can be generated using this web service. Botanical-online, like most other websites on the Internet, uses its own and third-party cookies to improve the user experience and to offer an accessible and adapted browsing. Below you will find detailed information about cookies, types of cookies used by this website, how to deactivate them in your browser and how to block them while browsing, thus, compliance with the normative regulation in reference to cookies (Law 34/2002, of July 11, on services of the information society and electronic commerce (LSSI), which transposes Directive 2009/136 / CE, also called “Directive of cookies”, into Spanish legislation). What are cookies?Cookies are text files that browsers or devices generate when visiting Internet websites. They are used to store information about the visit and meet the following requirements:
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