Do you eat Durian?

leosmith66
leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Smells like rotten garlic, has a soft and mushy texture and a sickly sweet flavor with not tartness whatsoever. Sound delicious to you?

The first time I tasted durian I almost hurled. My Thai gf wanted to see my reaction I guess, and she thought it was hilarious. The second time was a few years later. I didn't feel nauseous but it still tasted bad. The third time was 2 years ago, when I had almost no sense of taste shortly after a flu, and I actually ate a big chunk (100g?) and though it was ok. In fact, I thought I was starting to understand the flavor better, if that makes sense.

About 4 months ago I tried it again. Tentative at first, I actually liked it, and finished the entire portion I was given like a big boy. Then 2 weeks after that, curious to try it again, I absolutely loved it! I spent the last 2 weeks of my vacation in Thailand looking for opportunities to eat it again.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can get fresh durian in the states.

Questions: What is your experience with durian? Do you know of a way I can get it here in the US?
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Replies

  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Go to an Asian market. That's the only way. They sell them in the Asian markets where I live even though we're in the South.

    I have tried a lot of other Asian fruits and liked them, but I haven't grown the cojones to try durian yet lol.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    edited October 2016
    The only place I have seen them at was this huge international store in Cincinnati a friend took me to when I went to visit her last year. I had seen them on TV but was surprised how large they really are. That store also sold durian flavored popsicles. :lol:

    I've never tried one but the flavor has sounded like something I might like so I'm interested to try it if I get the chance. I debated it when I was in Cincinnati but I wasn't going to spend $15 on a huge fruit I couldn't take back home or buy a full pack of popsicles.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Never had it, kind of scared of it, and I'll usually try anything.
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    I feel like I was watching an episode of Bizarre Foods and Andrew Zimmern had a bad experience with Durian. In fact, for the guy who literally eats ANYTHING, I think he said it was one of the few things he couldn't stomach.

    That and that fish some european country soaks in lye.
  • sparklyglitterbomb
    sparklyglitterbomb Posts: 458 Member
    I remember all the signs in the hotels in Thailand forbidding guests from bringing durian fruit in. I had no idea what it was, so asked and the man said "smelly, bad. you won't like it" and puckered his face up.. didn't sound like he was a fan, either.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    I've tried it fresh and in a smoothie. Blech. No thanks. I've seen it sold fresh in Asian markets. Pretty sure you can get it in canned form too.

    If I were in SE Asia, I'd gorge on mangosteen or jackfruit instead!

  • leosmith66
    leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
    My Thai friends try to convince me that all the hotels really care about is keeping Durian out of the elevators. Not sure this is true, but we sneaked one into my condo one time using the service elevator (22nd floor), and the scent didn't linger as far as I know, but that's the same lift they use for garbage, so who knows.
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    If you live near an H-Mart (or even Lotte Plaza) you could probably find it. As another person commented, any Asian market will likely have the stuff!
    This being said and done, I refuse to touch the stuff I find it appalling! I've tried Durian candies once that I got off Amazon and it was the strangest experience of not too bad to terrible in less than three seconds and I couldn't wash away the taste. I don't even think it would be worth trying again to see if I like it! Haha but good luck, you brave, brave soul!
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    edited October 2016
    htimpaired wrote: »
    I feel like I was watching an episode of Bizarre Foods and Andrew Zimmern had a bad experience with Durian. In fact, for the guy who literally eats ANYTHING, I think he said it was one of the few things he couldn't stomach.

    That and that fish some european country soaks in lye.

    Interestingly enough, Zimmern does hate it and Anthony Bordain loves it. I saw an episode where he was sitting on the beach alone eating one right out of the rind and extolling its virtues. I have a feeling it's like blue cheese or cilantro: you either love it or you hate it, there's little in between.
  • Habiteer
    Habiteer Posts: 190 Member
    I like durian, but I don't go out of my way to eat it nor do I ever buy it at the market. It's just kind of a messy thing to eat which is the only thing I dislike about it.

    I find it hilarious when people talk about how vile durian is. I guess it doesn't bother me because I was exposed to it when I was younger.
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  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    htimpaired wrote: »
    I feel like I was watching an episode of Bizarre Foods and Andrew Zimmern had a bad experience with Durian. In fact, for the guy who literally eats ANYTHING, I think he said it was one of the few things he couldn't stomach.

    That and that fish some european country soaks in lye.

    Interestingly enough, Zimmern does hate it and Anthony Bordain loves it. I saw an episode where he was sitting on the beach alone eating one right out of the rind and extolling its virtues. I have a feeling it's like blue cheese or cilantro: you either love it or you hate it, there's little in between.

    I'm actually not sure why but cilantro doesn't bother me; I don't love it nor hate it. Most times I eat something with it I'll enjoy the dish, unless it's from Qdoba. Seriously, I don't know that that place does to that poor cilantro but there's is the only version where I'm repulsed by it. No clue why.
    I also loathe blue cheese. Blue cheese and durian. And walnuts; walnuts are dry, oily, and bland, just like hazelnuts I don't see the appeal behind those things!

    But really I promise I love food and eating whatever is within 5 feet of me outside of those things.
  • ClubSilencio
    ClubSilencio Posts: 2,983 Member
    I love fruit but I don't think I would eat durian. I'd try it if was free. You can find it in Asian markets but the whole fruit is big and heavy.... you're looking at $10 at least for something experimental. Also check their freezer section... they might have some vacuum packed pieces of the fruit. I wonder if you'd experience the full effect that way though. I just can't eat foods that stink. How can you be a fruit and smell like onions? :unamused:


  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    No way, durian damages your health. I stay way clear of that and monster lasagna. Blech.

    True Fact
  • leosmith66
    leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
    edited October 2016
    My local asian markets don't carry it, but I found a market that's only a 1hr drive from here. Yay! I'm going to surprise the hell (not kitten) out of a friend of mine.
    AlabasterVerve wrote: »
    No way, durian damages your health. I stay way clear of that and monster lasagna. Blech.
    True Fact
    Lol - I assume that's a joke.
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    the smell puts me off - so haven't tried it. I also intensely dislike custard apple and it appears to be similar in texture so nup.

    But you should be able to get it from Asian stores. They sell them here in Australia from Asian stores.
  • LiftandSkate
    LiftandSkate Posts: 148 Member
    Love it! It is served occasionally at the (mostly) Thai temple I go to, and I never pass it up.
  • leosmith66
    leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
    edited October 2016
    I just bought 2 durian for $23. Quite a bargain for the US, considering the last one I bought in Thailand was about $10. These are Thai monthong durian, and they appear to have been frozen, or at least stored at very cold temperatures for some time. I'll let you know how they turn out. I plan on eating one on Sunday.
  • funfang
    funfang Posts: 200 Member
    You can find them in almost every Asian supermarket. Have you tried to put them in the freezer? it tasted like ice cream!

    I was in a friend's house when I first tried. I had a cold and couldn't smell anything. So I was totally in love with it!
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    I like it.

    For added popularity, take a whole durian into the office and proceed to dismantle and consume it in the breakroom.
  • richardpkennedy1
    richardpkennedy1 Posts: 1,890 Member
    It smells awful but the taste is actually okay! It's banned on public transport in Singapore but then again a lot of things are banned there ☺
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Speaking of fruits popular in Thailand, it's almost pomelo season!

    twoff49wwc8v.png

    But no, never tried durian.
  • Ploofs
    Ploofs Posts: 59 Member
    I'm from Canada so I can't point you to where you can get it... but I love durian! I'm kind of craving it now after reading this thread lol. Here, you can buy it pre-cut and frozen in sections. They're just as good but can be a hit or miss on flavor (strong vs. weak durian flavor). Just let it thaw in an air-tight container in the fridge for the day before eating it. Especially useful if you don't want to buy the large fruit!
  • Tubbs216
    Tubbs216 Posts: 6,597 Member
    My husband's great-grandfather was an explorer, and one of the first Europeans to describe durians:
    "When brought into a house the smell is often so offensive that some persons can never bear to taste it. This was my own case when I first tried it in Malacca, but in Borneo I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and, eating it out-of-doors, I at once became a confirmed durion eater...

    [The] pulp is the eatable part, and its consistency and flavour are indescribable. A rich butter-like custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but intermingled with it come wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, brown-sherry, and other incongruities. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid, nor sweet, nor juicy; yet one feels the want of none of these qualities, for it is perfect as it is. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat durions, is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience." (Alfred Russel Wallace - The Malay Archipelago, 1869)

    I've had it a couple of times in Canada, but I think it wasn't ripe enough either time, because it didn't really taste or smell of much at all.
  • juliebowman4
    juliebowman4 Posts: 784 Member
    I'm in Canada and we can get it here....although not in a regular grocery store. You have to go to an Asian specialty store.
    My brother loves the stuff.....
    I won't let him bring it in my house, it stinks up the whole place.
  • leosmith66
    leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
    I have one sitting on my counter top. Very little smell. Hope it will be thawed out and ready to eat Sunday, and most importantly ripe and really tasting like a durian.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    There's a boba-tea place i used to go to and get durian smoothies. Yes, it smells weird. But the flavor is delicious and creamy and excellent when blended.

    Highly highly recommend.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    amyrebeccah wrote: »
    htimpaired wrote: »
    I feel like I was watching an episode of Bizarre Foods and Andrew Zimmern had a bad experience with Durian. In fact, for the guy who literally eats ANYTHING, I think he said it was one of the few things he couldn't stomach.

    That and that fish some european country soaks in lye.

    Lutefisk.

    Don't watch this gif if you're at work or have a sensitive stomach. It's exactly how i feel about lutefisk (I dont eat meat, but goshdarn i have this reaction when people do).
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    crazyravr wrote: »
    In Canada any Asian store will have it, most likely frozen. I have never tried it, but reading this thread I will this weekend. Hope its not as bad as some make it out to be haha :)

    usually it smells less if frozen, but they are not exaggerating about the smell. I can only describe it as a "rotting meat" scent.

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