I’ve tried it a few times growing up in the Philippines. I like it ok, but still would not run to buy any. I like the durian sweets better, candy things made from the fruit.
I often see “jack fruits” in our local Vietnamese markets. They look a lot like durian - do they taste like durian, too?
I’ve had durian ice cream, at Sarinah Satay restaurant back when they were in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. (They’re in Alexandria, VA now.)
I saw it on the menu and asked about it. After a brief description from the waiter, which included multiple statements of “you won’t like it”, I HAD to try it. Nothing like adding one more odd food to my list. At worst, I wouldn’t like it, but I had been warned! It was, as I recall, nice. I think making ice cream out of it got rid of the smell, but kept some of the taste. I’ve never had durian fruit, so I can’t make a comparison. Also, it’s been years. I should try it again! Any excuse to get back to Satay Sarinah is a good one.
I don’t know about DC, but I’ve seen “fresh” ones at the Asian Market on University Blvd in Langley Park, MD.
I had a durian icecream pop last summer. N.G.
No, but I came close.
On the way to Don Muang airport and my departure from Bangkok many years ago, my Thai girlfriend (actual girlfriend, not girlfriend-for-hire) bought some fresh durian from a fruit stand and gave it to me to eat on the flight. The odor was so rancid it turned heads; I was certain if I boarded with the bag I’d be asked to leave the plane. So I overcame my sentimentality and abandoned the durian in an airport trash can.
She swore it was delicious. I never had the opportunity to confirm, but it would have to be pretty damned delicious to smell like that and be considered edible.
…I’ve seen fresh durian for sale in Boston,MA! Only it didn’t look ripe-there was no unpleasant smell. Question: is frozen durian fruit odor-free?
I thought it was supposed to smell awful but taste great. Wrong. It tastes awful too. I had a bite in Malaysia and about threw up. I felt queasy for the rest of the day. I’m by no means a picky eater either. I can’t think of any food I’d rather eat less right now.
Maybe too many Tiger beers the night before, or I got a bad one. If you offered me a C-note to have a bite of one again, I’d think about it, but probably wouldn’t do it.
Love the taste, don’t mind the smell, hate the texture. I like the ice cream and candy though.
Can you get it over here at all jjimm?
I’ve had it in Bali. It was alright, but wasn’t nearly as tasty nor awful smelling as reputed. I doubt I’ll have it again.
I bought some from a street vendor in Thailand. I thought it tasted like a rotten onion smells - sort of sweet, but very unpleasant too. I’m a big fan of exotic fruits (it made my day this past Sunday when I to my husband’s friend’s fancy wedding where I knew nobody, but they had a ‘carving station’ devoted to fruit, including cherimoyas, guavas, and these little ground-cherry-like things called cape gooseberries), but not this one.
I have smelled the fruit in Chinatown in London, but never seen it. The candy is available in many Chinese supermarkets though. Not sure about the ice cream.