Durian chills out!

(Pictured: Boonyiam Surinpaeng (Grace Hotel) and Wendy Lee (Tourism Malaysia, Sydney).

The locals say it causes 'heatiness'. That's just one of durian's effects. Malaysia's King of Fruit is also thought, by some, to be an aphrodisiac, and those who eat it are warned off pairing it with alcohol. All this was revealed at a recent promotion at the Grace Hotel in Sydney.

More provable are its health benefits. Durian contains repectable amounts of important vitamins and minerals and, despite its creamy texture, is a good source of fibre and is low in fat.

This fearsome-looking fruit gets its name from its appearance. Duri means 'thorn' in Bahasa Malay, and it isn't good sense to stand under a durian tree if the fruit (which can weigh up to 3kg) is almost ripe. They can simply fall to the ground when ready to eat!

But let's talk about the smell. It's best to get this out of the way first. Durian-lovers (and there are many) insist that the smell is not a 'bad' smell. It has the slightly gaseous odour that many tropical fruits have. Think, mangoes, for instance. And anyway most of the best foods have a strong aroma. How about parmesan, washed rind cheeses, prosciutto - and indeed a wide range of charcuterie - and onions and garlic!

The flavour. It's impossible to describe the flavour of any food. It has to be in terms of another food, and durian stands alone. Some say there are almond notes, others cite onions. You have to decide for yourself.

The texture. Inside the hugely protective husk are several roughly egg-sized capsules of yellow-gold fruit. Covered by a thin membrane, and with a smooth stone inside, the pulp is as creamy as custard. The combination of aroma, flavour and texture is what sets durian apart and has earned it the ranking of 'king' in many south-east Asian countries.

Until now, if you wanted to eat fresh durian there was one choice. Fly to Malaysia in durian season (June-September or November-January) and they are everywhere - shops, roadside stalls, in homes. But not in hotels. Many have signs probiting their entry - because the smell is so invasive, and can be misinterpreted!

Now a new option has been developed. Durian has chilled out! Sold as Fresh Chilled Durian it is now available in selected outlets in Sydney (initially in Bankstown, Campsie and Cabramatta) in 250g plastic tubs. The flash freezing and chilling process results in fruit that has a firm texture (not watery as can happen with fully frozen durian) natural aroma and appearance. Oh, and the plastic packaging has been specially developed by MARDI, Malaysia's Department of Agriculture, so that the durian's distinctive odour stays inside.

The durian also has a longer storage life - three weeks at 2C, one week at 10C, two days at 25C. Currently two varieties of durian are being distributed in this way. Musang King has a rich yellow flesh with smaller seed and superiour flavour, many say. XO a clone of D24 is a lighter yellow with a slightly different - but still exceptional flavour.

Comments

0 #2 Durian outlets — Sally 2013-09-11 10:03

It is only in selected outlets in Sydney at present but you could try contacting Agriculture Malaysia in Sydney at +612 9262 1092.
Or if you bought some in Sydney, it would travel OK for the few hours to Nowra.

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0 #1 Mrs — Intan Kallus 2013-09-09 20:11

I live in Kangaroo Valley and shop in NOwra, NSW. How can I get hold of this new delicious arrival to Australia please, thanks. URGENTLY please....

Intan Kallus

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