If you've ever had fresh durian, you'll know that the pungent odor, along with its spiky exterior, is its signature mark. However many are convinced that the smell, which is often described as moldy cheese, rotting fish or garbage, is what makes it taste great. Like fine French cheeses (think camembert or worse), the stronger the smell, the better the taste.
“To anyone who doesn’t like durian it smells like a bunch of dead cats,” said Bob Halliday, a food writer in based Bangkok. “But as you get to appreciate durian, the smell is not offensive at all. It’s attractive. It makes you drool like a mastiff.”
So then, what is a durian that doesn't smell? And will it have the same delicious taste?
Thai scientist, Songpol Somsri, has been working for nearly three decades to destink the durian. By cross breeding more than 90 varieties of durian, Somsri says he has come up with a fruit that smells "as mild as a banana." He hopes that the fruit, named Chantaburi No. 1 (after his home province), will help broaden the American and European durian markets. However all of his hard work is not being met with 100% praise.
Durian lovers are at once disbelieving of and horrified by the prospect of a no-smell durian. They complain that the fruit is being homogenized like the insipid tomatoes bred to look pretty behind plastic wrap.
Source: NY Times
So how about you, what do you think of this?
7 For All Mankind
Henrik Vibskov
Tibi
I've never heard of a Durian, is it like a Lychee?
1If it smells like a dead cat, why on EARTH would you eat it in the first place?!?
2it smells like kitty poop...very strong kitty poop...but it doesnt reallie taste tat bad...if u can get over the smell..it will feel like kitty poop in your mouth...
3Durians are actually quite large (think melon sized) and have spiky points all on the outside. When you break it open the inside is sort of custardy and has a nutty/sweet flavor. In a related note, the odor is so strong it's actually banned on many asian subways/trains.
4I saw these at an international grocery like a month ago, I've read that they've been banned from being served at hotels because the smell is so terrible, and it doesn't go away.. and also that it smells like dirty feet...
5I'd certainly be willing to try one if I could find it. But I might not bring it home if it smells that bad, tho.
6ewww i hate durians! i really tried to get into them once, but i just couldn't. in hong kong, they have durian flavoured ice cream!
7I've never understood stuff like this. Sure, maybe it does taste good.. but it smells AWFUL. So who was it that stumbled upon a piece of fruit that smelled like a rotting corpse and thought, "hey! wonder what it tastes like? let's see!"
8I read this yesterday as well. My dad is appalled at the idea of gentle smelling durian. Haha. I agree with the article in that for most people who have eaten durian more than a couple times, the smell doesn't seem bad anymore. I don't even remember how bad it use to smell because I love it so much now. You basically get use to it and your brain associates it with the good taste. Mmmm.
9Do you eat it alone or with something else? Is it used for a special dish?? I've never heard of it.
10You eat it alone, and like many fruits in Asia, you eat it without any other food usually as a dessert or a snack. You just crack it open and enjoy with friends and family.
11may be it's just smth new to non-Asians..most Asians love durians..the smell is not that bad, come on...if you get used to it it'd be great...if you can't stand the smell, try durian ice cream..durian has been around for as long as I can remember, why do we have to de-stink it now?? those scientists should be doing smth more useful than just de-stinking durian..try de-stinking garbage
12
it does NOT smell like kitty poop!! 
i
heart durians ya'll!
13I love durians! And it's smells nothing like dead animals. What an exaggeration! Sheesh..
14The NYT article was interesting. Like many others, I didn't know anything about durians prior to this. Now, I'm curious!
15Aww people durians are fantastic! Yeah the smell can be a bit much but for durian-lovers the smell is part of the entire durian eating experience. A smell-less durian? Gosh that sounds terrible already :[
Pleaseeee go try durians if you guys ever get the chance to!
16This creeped me out when I read about it on A Muffin Story. (PS, thanks for the link to this Yum, I check out Andrea's page daily!)
17I am definitely the minority - I love it AND the smell! Yes, I grew up eating it... but I think papayas smell far worse than durians.
18the fruit is so fresh and sweet, who cares about how it smells on the outside?
19Truth be told, i don't really mind the smell that much. But i would definitely like to try it without the smell to compare. But i'm sure just like everything else, original is still better.
20Durian, is one of the fruits that you can find in the Philippines.,
21Yes, seriously it smells .....
can't explain the smell, but the taste is good.
Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.