The King of Fruits
By: Irene Zhang, SEAS ’21
Durian fruit at a market in Shenzhen
Shenzhen Hanyang Technology Co.Ltd – China
Durian is a fruit famous for its pungent odor and unique flavor. A popular fruit in the humid, tropical climate of Southeast Asia, its memorable odor and taste, it is considered by many to be the smelliest fruit on the planet. Many food blogs have expressed their distaste of the fruit. Many first-timers compare the flavor to “onions” or “gym socks” only do so because their palette is not wide enough to describe the fruit.
I have personally never tasted a gym sock, but I don’t imagine it would taste like durian. In fact, there is nothing else in the world that comes close in taste or texture. The flavor of the sweet, custard-textured fruit is so unique and indescribable. The many western food bloggers who gag on camera to the taste are extremely off-putting. For many, their interest is not in understanding the fruit or the people that cultivate it, but in gaining views and attention, and the popularity of their videos has led to an unfair perception of durian in western media. Those who are willing to do a little research will find that it often takes 5 or more encounters to acquire the taste of durian. The gym socks smell morphs into the strongest, sweetest odor on the planet. The deliciously sweet taste and creamy texture swim around in your mind (and on your breath) for hours after eating the smallest bite.
The exposure to durian that I’ve had in Shenzhen is beyond any that I have had before. The more I eat, the harder it is to stop. The spiky fruit has earned a place in my book as one of the best fruits in the world. I have grown so fond of it that I’ll travel across the city alone to find a store that specializes in durian desserts. Durian is so essential to the everyday lives of the people of Southeastern Asia, and so essential to understanding not only the current experience but the thousands of years of history of people who have consumed the fruit for millennia.
To understand durian requires the same type of patience and open-mindedness it takes to understand another culture. You don’t always have to enjoy or agree with all of it, and it might be completely different and new. If you do approach it with an open mind, you might understand much more about the culture of the people who enjoy it so much, the people who revere it for what it truly is—the king of fruits.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.