# Durian Cake, or Where Mangetout Does Not Mean 'Eat All' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 28, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343 "2010-07-28T18:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/21 "2010-07-29T04:22:19Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > I’ve had a durian milkshake before. It was pretty good, actually. I admit I’ve had durian cookies that were not half bad. The trick is to dump in a TON of sugar. But given the other options out there, why bother with durian anything? ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/22 "2010-07-29T07:53:38Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > [Andrew Zimmern](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vm9ik5pjo) tries durian. This guy downs stuff that would gag a maggot. Including maggots. He couldn’t do durian. Well, the guy couldn’t handle stinky tofu. Stinky tofu doesn’t even have much of a taste. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/23 "2010-07-29T08:32:19Z")
The OP sounds like my experience with haggis and limburger cheese. Both times I succeeded in forcing myself to swallow one bite, before throwing the rest out. There are damn few foods I don’t eat and enjoy. These two are at the top of the list. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/24 "2010-07-29T12:40:26Z")
Last time I was in Sydney there was an icecream shop with durian flavoured icecream. I was not tempted. _Chacun à son goût_, as they say. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/25 "2010-07-29T12:55:48Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I tried to get a fruit vendor to crack open a durian for me in the Philippines, so I could give it a shot. She refused. If you want a durian, you have to take it far, far away before you open it. > > Since I was with a group and not willing to make them all hate me, I gave up on my durian dreams. ☹ Malaysia and Singapore has open-air stalls where you could have open up durians and eat them on the spot. I don’t particularly care about them; they smell okay to me, but I don’t have the cravings. Some folks eat it as they believe it to be aphrodisiac. It should be less worse if it’s in a cookie or cake… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/26 "2010-07-29T13:01:48Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The OP sounds like my experience with haggis and limburger cheese. Both times I succeeded in forcing myself to swallow one bite, before throwing the rest out. > > There are damn few foods I don’t eat and enjoy. These two are at the top of the list. Haggis? Really? It’s nothing more than sausage? And damned tasty too. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/27 "2010-07-29T13:12:17Z")
Hell yes, on the haggis. Or somewhere between sausage and a kind of savoury porridge. Best with tatties, neeps and gravy (whisky-flavoured gravy is not obligatory but comes highly recommended). As to the OP it seems to have been less a case of _mange tout_, more “man, get out!”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/28 "2010-07-29T17:18:22Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > But in fact, there are large populations of people out there who _like_ durian. Wouldn’t be for sale otherwise, would it? It makes me wonder if it’s one of those things like cilantro, where certain populations have receptors or whatnot that other populations simply don’t have. I was wondering that myself. It could easily be the case. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/29 "2010-07-29T17:23:20Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > As to the OP it seems to have been less a case of _mange tout_, more “man, get out!”. 😃 Well played, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/30 "2010-07-31T01:51:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > > [@Hades](#): > > > > I’ve had a durian milkshake before. It was pretty good, actually. > > I admit I’ve had durian cookies that were not half bad. The trick is to dump in a TON of sugar. But given the other options out there, why bother with durian anything? I had it at a Thai restaurant in Massachusetts. I also had salty lemonade during the same visit. I just like trying new and/or weird things. I’ve also had real durian, by the way. It wasn’t terrible. The texture and appearance (it looked and felt like phlegm) bothered me more than the flavor, which really does taste like onion custard. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/31 "2010-07-31T02:14:55Z")
_ **takes bite of durian** _ _ **takes bite of rotting corpse** _ _ **chew, chew** _ No, I have to say the corpse is better. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/32 "2010-07-31T07:08:41Z")
I went back to the same store yesterday with a colleague and the moment we walked in, she said “what the hell is that smell!?”. Turns out they also sometimes sell fresh durians - they were in a polystyrene box at the back of the shop, but the whole place stank like there was a problem with the drains. This is the first time I’ve ever seen them in the UK. Had I never tried the durian cake, I might have been tempted to buy one of the fresh fruits, but I doubt I could enjoy it now, even if it’s not as foul as the durian cake. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/33 "2010-07-31T07:46:46Z")
They sell them at the local supermarket. They don’t seem to be specially wrapped and I have never noticed any particular smell. Were the ones at your store sliced at all? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/34 "2010-07-31T09:27:29Z")
Just on reflection, how can the civilisation who gave us black pudding complain about durian? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/35 "2010-07-31T12:39:21Z")
I like food. I like trying new food. My wife is not nearly so adventurous. A few weeks ago, she attended a coworker’s party, and brought home a small piece of that durian paste, because she knew that I’d always wanted to try it. Well, I did, and had pretty much the same reaction as **Mangetout**. I couldn’t get that shit out of my mouth fast enough. The weird thing is that my wife liked it, and ate all of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/36 "2010-07-31T13:38:33Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > They sell them at the local supermarket. They don’t seem to be specially wrapped and I have never noticed any particular smell. Were the ones at your store sliced at all? No - they were just whole, sitting in a box. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/37 "2010-07-31T13:40:14Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Just on reflection, how can the civilisation who gave us black pudding complain about durian? 😃 Heh. But black pudding doesn’t offend the palate - only the mind (well, for some - I love the stuff) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/38 "2021-01-16T19:16:18Z")
There are a surprising number of threads on this subject. We have an Asian food store close by, and durian is pricy. In a weak moment, I bought something today similar to a durian ice cream since I have read a lot of opinions. But never tried it, and felt I should. No. Never trying it was the right move. Smell is an enormous part of taste. The first bite was disgusting, as above, maybe more. It mellowed slightly with a few more bites. But you can’t really get past the scent. I knew a Danish woman who enjoyed offering unsuspecting people a piece of the harsh, salty liquorice enjoyed there and photographing their dusappointment. Durian seems much worse. Anyone want some barely used ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/39 "2021-01-16T20:05:43Z")
I’ve remarked on my experience with durian before and I’ll post this link here as it sums up my thoughts on durian much better than I could have written it: [Tell Us About The Worst Thing You Ever Ate On Purpose](https://deadspin.com/tell-us-about-the-worst-thing-you-ever-ate-on-purpose-558523195) @mangetout Next up, surstromming! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343/40 "2021-01-16T20:43:00Z")
Eating the first bite was bad. Holding your breath hides all the flavour. But the occasional post-consumption burp is as unpleasant as the first bite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durian-cake-or-where-mangetout-does-not-mean-eat-all/548343.md?page=3)