Durian – the queen of tropical fruits

Andrew Scott

A durian fruit tree

Malayan peninsula

Durian

The durian season is in full swing and sensitive noses sniff suspiciously at the unbearable smell given out by this spiky fruit enclosing a creamy pulp which is the delicacy of durian lovers throughout the world.

The unbearable smell of the durian fruit, at least for some people, and the frightening spiky nature of this fruit are the dominating features of the durian fruit. For some people its smell is really offensive and for others who relish eating its ripe pulp, its smell is enticing and make their lips water. Even some airlines refuse to carry it as cargo and some hotels dislike it being used in their premises. However, those who relish to eat its tasty outer pulp enclosing its fertile seeds are really crazy over it.

The home of the durian is the Malayan peninsula where these trees grow in a wild or a semi-wild state and in some countries aboriginal tribesmen collect it from the jungles and get money by selling them to the towns in which there is a great demand for them. Its botanical name is Durio Zibethinus and in some Asian countries it is popularly known as the civet cat fruit because of its obnoxious smell which many people cannot tolerate. Though it is a native of Malaya today it is spread and thrives well in many Asian countries including Sri Lanka.

It is cultivated mainly for the sake of its celebrated fruit. The durian fruit has a unique appearance and its skin is covered with prickly thorns which can harm both man and beast alike. Just imagine your plight if a durian fruit accidentally falls on your head. For many people in Sri Lanka too the odour of the durian is intensely offensive but it is highly valued by those who relish its creamy pulp that encases its large seeds which germinate quickly. Some early Europeans have remarked that “Eating durians is a sensation worth a voyage to the east.”

The durian too like many other fruits is a seasonal fruit that is abundantly available during the July-August season but this fruiting season may change a depending on the changing weather patterns. Though the appearance of the durian fruit is frightening and its smell is nauseating for some, the creamy soft flesh or pulp inside the cavities of its thorny pod is ambrosia in the tongues of those who relish it. There is also a belief that eating durians could arouse the passions of the men.

It is interesting to note that the obnoxious odour of the durian fruit has the unique power to penetrate through even plastic bags. Durians could bring in much foreign exchange if we could export it. Even otherwise it fetches a fancy price at the local markets.

Annually the production of durians in Sri Lanka is dropping rapidly due to these trees being felled down for the supply of wood which is in much demand. Perhaps in the near future the durian tree may become extinct in Sri Lanka. What a difference it would be for those who adore this queen of tropical fruits.

One of the pioneering superintendents of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, H F Macmillan in his much read and much quoted book ‘A Handbook of Tropical Gardening and Planting’ referring to the durian tree says: “A very large, handsome pyramid shaped tree, native of the Malay Archipelago, commonly cultivated in the Straits, Burma, Java, for the sake of its celebrated fruit... When ripe it becomes slightly yellow and possesses an odour which is intensely offensive to most people, especially on first acquaintance with it. The cream coloured pulp surrounding the seed is the edible portion. This is most highly prized by the Malays and other oriented races and is also relished by Europeans who acquire a taste for it.”

While many people in Sri Lanka think only of planting trees such as mango and coconut in their home gardens it is only a handful that cares to even look twice at a durian tree. The only time of the year when the durian tree receives much attention is when they are in fruit. At other times they are hopelessly neglected. It is timely that we think more kindly about the durian tree and take early action to encourage more and more people to grow more and more durian trees specially in the more spacious gardens in the country.