10 January 2009

It's nice to dine with fruits

All throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Asia you can find various fruits and vegetables hanging from roof lattices. Some of these, like peppers and garlic, are easily recognizable, while still others, like the spiny fruit pictured above, are truly foreign to us. The spiny fruit in question is called a durian, sometimes referred to as the “King of Fruits”, and is native to countries in Southeast Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia. Today, we’ll take a look at this intriguing fruit from the outside in.

The spiky outer casing of the fruit not only protects the fruit it is also the origin of its name, as durian comes from the Malay word duri, meaning thorn. So the spines of the durian give it its name and protect the seeds inside, but, it can also inflict injuries on those collecting them. The trees that grow the roughly 30 species of durian can reach heights in excess of one-hundred and fifty feet, which means a durian falling from that height could inflict serious harm on the unaware, though death by durian is rare. Hardhats are recommended to those who collect durians. The armored outer husk is also, some say, the way to tell when a durian is ripe, as it will begin to crack.

Internally, the fruit is comprised of seeds, varying in number by species, and a fleshy pulp that surrounds the seeds. This pulp is ready to eat when the fruit is cut open, though the seeds can also be consumed after boiling. The flesh of a durian releases an odor that can be detected by animals up to half a mile away. Animals such as tigers, squirrels, elephants, and pigs find the durian to be extremely delicious. People, however, are undecided on the scent and taste of the durian. Descriptions of the smell of durian run the gamut from vomit and sewage to only certainly disagreeable. The accounts of the taste are even more far-ranging, from and almond custard, to a runny French cheese, to rotten onions. The scent of the durian is so pervasive that it is prohibited in public transportation, airlines, enclosed spaces, and a variety of hotels.

Durians today can be found during their ripe seasons all across Asia, northern Australia, Madagascar, and even in states such as Hawaii and Florida. So, the next time you’re in Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Asia, I would advise not standing too close to this fruit, or else you might end up with puncture wounds that smell like skunk spray.

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