Durian Trivia | 30 facts about the “king” of fruits

Durian is considered an exotic, and special fruit, that in many places has the “nickname” of the “king” of fruits.

Let’s find out more about it!

1. The durian is the fruit of several tree species.
2. It belongs to the genus Durio.
3. There are 30 recognised Durio species.
4. At least nine of them produce edible fruit.
5. Over 300 named, edible varieties exist in Thailand and 100 in Malaysia, as of 1987.
6. Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market: other species are sold in their local regions. It is native to Borneo and Sumatra.
7. In some places it is named as the “king of fruits”.
8. The durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and thorn-covered rind.
9. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 inches) long and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter.
10. It typically weighs 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds).
11. Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.
12. Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance, whereas others find the aroma overpowering with an unpleasant odour.
13. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage.
14. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, led certain hotels and public transportation services in Southeast Asia to ban the fruit.
15. However, the nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described its flesh as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds”.
16. The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness
17. It is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet desserts in Southeast Asian cuisines.
18. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.
19. The name was first used around 1580.
20. The the name “durian” is derived from the Malay language word dûrî (meaning ‘thorn’)
21. It is a reference to the numerous prickly thorns of the rind, together with the noun-building suffix -an.
22. The species name ‘zibethinus’ derives from the name of the civet (Viverra zibetha), known for its odour.
23. The king of fruits is thus excellent for improving muscle strength and blood pressure, bowel movements and skin health.
24. If you have diabetes and must count your carbs, you cannot feast on durians because of the fruit’s high sugar content. Durians contain simple sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose.
25. Because of their high carbohydrate content, durians can help replenish low energy levels quickly (in healthy individuals).
26. According to a *myth* eating durian and drinking beer at the same time may kill you. There is no scientific evidence to show that this is a lethal combination. It is more likely to cause bloating, indigestion and discomfort as your liver has to work extra hard to metabolise both fats and sugars in the durians and the alcohol, especially if you have consumed both in excessive amounts.
27. In 2018, a plane carrying a large cargo of the pungent produce was temporarily grounded when passengers complained of the stench. Those who had yet to board refused to get on while those who had boarded started to get off. The airline had no choice but to offload the fetid fruit.
28. A post office in Bavaria was evacuated due to an “overwhelming smell coming from a suspicious package.” The culprit? Four “Thai durian fruits, sent to a 50-year old resident by his friend in Nuremberg.” The “overwhelming smell” has also cleared out a university, a hospital, and a mall.
29. The city of Jakarta is nicknamed the Big Durian, modeled after the Big Apple of New York City. And very fitting since Indonesia is a durian leader, producing over a million tons in 2018.
30. Jakarta isn’t the only one with a durian moniker: the Esplanade, a performing arts center with a spiky, ovular design, has been affectionately dubbed “the Durian” by locals.