The weekend edition of the WSJ had a fun article titled A Stinky, Pricey Delicacy highlighting the recently increasing price of the durian fruit in Asia. One durian can set you back upwards of $200. Until today, I had not had the pleasure of tasting durian. But the article prompted me to see what all the fuss was about. Here's a quick excerpt from the article describing its unique qualities:Adored by Southeast Asians and Chinese, the durian sends most foreigners fleeing, thanks to its unmistakable odor. "Gasoline" and "blue cheese" are two tame metaphors people often use to describe it; "garbage," "stinky socks" and "manure" also are frequently invoked. Even here in Thailand, durians are banned in hotel elevators, subways and airplanes.Well. We bought one tonight from the Asian market, cracked it open, and dug in. I have to say all the above descriptions were wrong. It was more like a custard version of french onion soup. Very creamy, very oniony. Kind of over-hyped if you ask me, but I suppose I'm not picking up on the subtleties of the taste. We went for the cheaper Mon Thong variety, which apparently has significant health benefits:
I'll let you know when those anti-oxidants start kicking in.In February, ten researchers from Warsaw Agricultural University, in Poland, published what they claim is the first extensive study of the durian's health benefits. They found that the Mon Thong was so high in antioxidants that they suggested it be included in diets to prevent heart disease. The Kan Yao also was found effective, but less so.
That should come as a relief to durian eaters who have suffered from its extreme richness and curious heat-inducing properties. Many people perspire excessively for an hour or two after consuming a durian -- the high sulfur content is generally thought to be the cause.
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