Durian (aka: randompost)

[furtech]

Not much to post about beyond Rondo being adorable, finishing projects and a continuing massive spring-cleaning. Today I did have an opportunity to try something interesting: a Durian milkshake.
Durian is known in S.E. Asia as "the king of fruits". Anthony Burgess likened durian to eating custard in a latrine. The fruit is famous for having a stench like a pile of old diapers or rotting flesh. But the taste is said to be glorius! The menu at a Vietnamese restaurant listed a durian milkshake: curious, I gave it a whirl. I figured that at least this was less daunting than the actual fruit and would allow me to get some idea of what the taste was like.

Not bad! I had a hard time likening the flavor to something familiar: it was fun trying something that tasted good and yet had no equivalent in my experience. Kind of like describing papaya to someone who's never had it before. The best way I came up with was a cross between a peach and guava (but smoother, without any citrus-bite). Or the flavor of sugarcane mixed with a peach.

Oddly, I couldn't detect any of the infamous smell associated with the fruit; however, my dining mate could sure smell it! She remarked after a few minutes that she was suddenly starting to smell the nasty, rotting-something smell as time went on. I still couldn't smell anything beyond the slightly fragrant scent of the milkshake. Dunno if it's something that Asians can't detect (or don't find unpleasant or a male-female thing or just having a really sensative nose). I know there are certain o-koko that stink yet are pretty tasty.

So at least in milkshake form, durian is good enough to order again...

Comments

[whiteyfawks.livejournal.com]

We have a gelato place locally that has, of all things, durian ice cream. They have to keep the lids on the tubs or the stench would overwhelm the store. The flavour is....intresting, though perhaps not to everyones palate.

[mognetcentral.livejournal.com]

My stepdad once sat next to me eating durian ice cream, and the smell was enough to put me off my own (chestnut, or some other interesting but yum flavor). I am totally into the idea of trying fresh durian, but seriously... it does reek of urine.

[whiteyfawks.livejournal.com]

It's the most pipolar citizen in Fruitland. "I stink, love me!!!"

Turnips are far superior. *nods* They'd be mayor. (Cause being a veggie, they would be a foreigner, and therefor better at local politics)

[mognetcentral.livejournal.com]

Aww, I love daikon--I'd totally vote for one! What a great icon.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

...but do you love daikon pickles? Like the yellow ones? I'm told that they stink to high-heaven, yet they're my fave!

[whiteyfawks.livejournal.com]

....and do they come in garlic?

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that while nearly everyone finds the smell awful, the descriptions vary so widely. From "sewer/outhouse/foul,dirtydiaper" to "urine/tomcatspray/publicrestroom" to "rottingflesh/rotteneggs".

Maybe I didn't have a problem with the smell because of some of the foods I grew up with (mostly various asian pickles). Normally I can smell pee or poop a mile away (copraphobic!).