OK, stupid white boy from midwest hits big city… and can’t read Chinese, and is too shy to ask, so…
This thing is HUGE - larger (by a bit) than a pineapple, has no “crown” as does a pineapple, but shares on thing with a pineapple - it is covered with “stickies” - but these are much smaller than a pineapple’s, and much harder - they are sold in net bags because it is painful to hold one in your hand.
Reddish-brown, 3-4 pounds, 12" long 8-10" on a side (to the extent they have sides - think partially deflated-baskteball for size and shape).
They may be some kind of seed pod.
So - what are they, and how hungry/drunk did the first person have to be to look at one of these things and say “I can eat that”?
The stuff smells absolutely foul. Sewer pipe doesn’t even begin to desribe it. If you can get past the smell (I tried but can’t), durian lovers think it’s the most delicious food in the world.
No, not a durian - it is oblong, red-brown (not green), and has no discernable odor (I had one within 6" of my face - no trace of odor).
The spikes are not simple spines - and they do not appear to be separate seeds - they look like the spikes on a pineapple, but the base is much smaller, and the points are harder (to the point of being painful to hold).
Several stores carry these (but none of the ones with english signage), so it is not a cult food. I saw one with a small split in the skin - it appears that the outer skin is quite thin, and there is a whiteish meat just under the surface.
As to the shape - ever seen a coconut in its outer shell? Kind of like that shape.
Actually, my dear wife likes Durian very, very much. Unfortunately so much so that I have had to (somewhat out of character) ask her not to eat it in the house! -the smell lingers and lingers!
The smell is somewhat like baby vomit, diorreah, and rotting fruit.
It’s HUGELY popular here in south-east asia. So much so that during Durian season I’ll come into the office and spend the day feeling ill, because some stupid-head has been eating Durians in the pantry.
Now, those who enjoy the fruit REALLY enjoy it, and those who don’t, HATE it. Which prompts me to think there’s some sort of mildly narcotic effect to it, or somesuch (others can and will correct me). The flavour is somewhat like onion-flvoured custard. It’s not really nice enough to warrant dealing with the smell (so says I, others disagree, often very aggressivley).
A mildly amusing (more disturbing fact)- apparently it’s dangerous to be out under the Durian trees up in Malaysia during fruit season, because the Durians are heavier than coconuts and harder and well… the effect of one landing on your head from height of the tree can be quite fatal (not just a little bit!).
Oh, and there’s heavy fines for carrying them on the air-conditioned buses and trains!
just ask, there’s no shame in asking (‘there are no stupid questions…’). Let us know what they tell you.
I’ll try asking aorund the office too, you’d be amazed at some of the fruit we get here- the Rambutan has nice flesh inside, but is covered with a red HAIRY shell! Yes, HAIRY!
We in S.E. Asia can never figure out why westerners find the smell of durian disgusting. To us it is sweet smelling. Biological reasons? Cultural? I don’t know. Oh well. We love the darn thing.
The Rambutan is named that way because Rambut is Malay for hair.
Maybe it’s lichee fed with ultra-super-huge-growing-genes? Or…, I have no clue. You should take a picture and show it to us, then I’m sure someone will be able to give you a response.
…Just out of curiosity, are there any food smells that you’ve noticed westerners really liking, but that most S.E. Asians would find revolting?
Y’know, In case I’m ever down in Kuala Lampur, I wouldn’t want to open up a bag of Cheetos in a crowded theater and cause a nausiated stampede for the exits, or something.