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

[skiefire.livejournal.com]

The lack of smell is usually down to the fact your eating it. Funny effect, but try this:

Pinch your nose and take a bite of banana.
Chew it a bit and then let go of your nose.
You should get a flood of banana taste :D

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I was going to try something like that when/if I ever try fresh durian fruit. Hold the nose to get through that first bite, then breathe. But if that will release a flood of taste...dunno if I can take -that-!