Fwd: The Durian

[Guest guest]

Here's an email forwarded from Karl Losken of EarthSave Canada.

 

Jeff

 

 

The Durian

by David Klein

<<davedave

 

Durian, the legendary tropical fruit of Oceana, is considered by many

to be the ultimate eating experience. Covered with a thick brown

spiky husk, it resembles a bizarre medieval football. However, the

treasure that lies within is out of this world!

 

Durians are mainly available in the U.S. and Europe from inner-city

Asian food stores. If your Asian grocer does not recognize the name

durian, ask for it by the name of its most popular variety grown in

Thailand, " monthong. " Durians typically arrive frozen from Thailand.

They are also grown and, to a lesser extent, exported from Malaysia,

the Philippines, Vietnam, northern Australia, Central America and

Hawaii. When frozen, they typically sell for around $0.99 to $1.50

per pound; fresh they typically sell for $4.00 per pound. Averaging

seven pounds each, durian is an expensive meal but you may find them

to be well worth any price!

 

A good durian has a light fruity aroma, but a durian which has a

repulsively noxious aroma may still be good to eat. The husk may he

decomposing and releasing sulfurous gases, giving it the

characteristic rotten egg aroma. But don't give up--ecstasy resides

within!

 

Durians typically have five inner chambers (or " locules " ), each with

a soft creamy, yellowish piece of fruit, with one or two large seeds

(to be discarded). Each chamber, or pod, has an invisible seam down

the middle. When naturally ripened on the tree, the seams split open,

yielding fruit for fortunate primate or human connoisseurs. Since

virtually no durians arrive at the market split open, you can try

feeling for the seam and peeling the pods open with your finger

nails. If that fails, a sharp knife will do the trick. Durian can be

eaten semi-frozen, providing a delight reminiscent of banana-nut ice

cream. Eaten at room temperature after thawing, the durian fruit is

amazingly silky and creamy, making it an incomparable, naturally

sensual delight. Mildly to moderately sweet, with about eight percent

fat content (weightwise), durian is oh so satisfying. However, the

secret to the durian's allure goes way beyond the sweetness. All

tropical fruits contain natural hormonal proteins, precursors to

neurotransmitters which enhance our brain functions and promoting a

sense of well-being. The durian apparently is the richest food source

of these hormonal proteins, bringing most eaters to a wonderful state

of euphoria and happiness, of loving and being loved! Indeed, durian

is well known as an aphrodisiac. But if this makes you uneasy, fear

not, for the effect is comfortable and natural.

 

In contrast to the dense, ice cream like texture imparted by

freezing, fresh (unfrozen) durian is lighter, reminiscent of whipped

cream. If you can shell out the $30 to $36 for a fresh durian, here's

hoping that it it is a perfectly ripe one! Durians are available in

different varieties, each varying in flavors and textures. Generally,

a small percentage of the durians we choose will not be completely

ripe. They can be hard, rubbery and unpalatable. The quality of the

fruit inside is not easily discerned, making durian buying a bit of a

gamble, however, a nice fruity aroma and a light brown husk are the

best clues to go by. Avoid dark brown husks, these typically have

been thawed out and refrozen one or more times, reducing their flavor

and producing the characteristic rotten egg aroma. If you get one or

more " bad " durians, don't give up! The next one might provide the

eating experience of your life! A good durian is, in my opinion, the

ultimate mono meal. Share one with a friend and enjoy this gem of

Creation.

 

Special thanks to Nirav of the Durian Palace <www.durianpalace.com>

for contributing to this article. For more information, contact Nirav

at <durianpalace.

 

 

< < < FRUITFUL QUOTES > > >

 

" It's kind of fun to do the impossible. "

 

- Walt Disney

 

**

 

" The blossom vanishes of itself as the fruit grows, so will your

lower self vanish as the divine grows in you. "

 

- Ramakrisna Parmahansa