How to Eat a Durian

You have to be more than a little masochistic to eat a durian. The large, spiky fruit has an odor so strong and offensive that it has been banned from luxury hotels in Malaysia and from planes all over Southeast Asia. If you're brave enough to try this exotic fruit, here's how to eat it. Does this Spark an idea?

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Large knife with sturdy blade
Mouthwash

Instructions

- 1
  
  Select a durian at the peak of ripeness. When it is ready, the durian will crack a bit, giving you a preview of the distinctive scent for which it is infamous. If your durian reeks of dirty diapers left out in a dumpster at midday, with a top note of sweaty gym socks, you've got yourself a winner.
- 2
  
  Slice the durian along this natural fissure. Now you are really in for an olfactory assault that has been known to make people cry and retch. Be brave, make that cut and pry it wide open.
- 3
  
  Reach in, and grab one of the fleshy sections. This is what you are looking for. It will range in color from pale yellow to orange to bright red and may be covered with a thin membrane.
- 4
  
  Pop it into your mouth before you start to have second thoughts about the whole business. The texture has been compared to that of a soft cheese or custard.
- 5
  
  Spit out the rather large, chestnut-sized seed. Vomiting at this point is common but considered bad form.
- 6
  
  Use lots of mouthwash to get rid of the taste, unless you are one of the few who enjoy the taste of durian. Then, by all means, pop in another section and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

Durians flower in February and are at their peak in May.
Durian fans claim that the fruit is an aphrodisiac. Perhaps, but who wants to get near them to find out?
Never ingest the durian seed. They are toxic.

Suggest item

If you're a durian fan, check out this site devoted to the fruit.

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