Durian

Have you ever heard of a durian? The large, southeast Asian fruit is famous for it's smell and massive proportions. In the tropical countries where the fruit is native, it is famous for it's horned husk, creamy flesh and extremely pungent smell. Banned from many southeast Asian public transportation services, as well as many hotels, the epic scent has been given various descriptions, from rotten eggs, to raw sewage, to expired onions. While some loath the smell and taste of the "King of fruits", the opinions are polarized, with durian lovers claiming the giant fruit has a complex and unrivaled taste. 
There are many species of Durian fruit, all of which are tropical varieties grown within 20 degrees north or south of the equator. The large trees, which can reach heights between 80 and 160 feet depending on the variety, will stop growing in temperatures below 72 degrees fahrenheit. Due to these strict environmental requirements, they trees are only native to countries with tropical areas such as Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. The trees typically produce fruit in the Summer, from June to August. Of the 30 or so known species, only 9 produce edible fruits, and only 1 type can be found outside of countries where the tree grows natively. The flowers that eventually become fruit grow on thick branches, or directly on the tree trunk. The mature fruit can range in shape from oblong, to round, and can grow to up to 12" long and 6" in diameter, weighing 2-7 pounds! While the outside is usually a warm yellow or orange, the interior flesh of the fruit can range in color from pale yellow to bright red. While durian's are fairly uncommon outside of southeast asian countries where the fruit is popular, it can be found in markets all over the world. Usually, local asian markets will sell the fruit when in season, though generally they have been frozen for transportation across the globe. While critics revolt against the "king of fruits", with even the adventurous such as Andrew Zimmern unable to palate the taste and texture, diehard durian fans say there is nothing on earth that compares. Have you tried the durian fruit, or considered including it on your menu? Let us know what you think via Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LInkedIn.