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  Edition # 146  
San Francisco, 12-20-2022

Durian Smelly Fruit
Figure [1]: The brave stinkfruit tester.

Michael It is well known that I do not shy away from any dish in the world, so it was only a matter of time before I had to try durian, the famous and infamous stinky fruit from Malaysia. My colleagues had been raving for years about the complex flavor journey that this fruit takes through the palate, and that American and European wimps could never get past the unappetizing smell. Of course, this was ridiculous - I try everything.

Figure [2]: 27 Dollars for 400g of stinkfruit pulp

Yes, you read that right, there are actually fruits in this world that smell unappetizing yet taste good. Anyone who has ever had a fine wine knows that the nose and palate can sometimes give contradictory judgments. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced with the durian fruit, which smells like onion scraps left in the trash can that has been forgotten for two days. Not exactly appetizing, but certainly not as vomit-inducing as many Youtube videos suggest, showing American tourists in theatrical poses on Malaysian fruit markets.

Figure [3]: Conveniently, the pulp has already been extracted from the fruit.

It happened that one day our megasupermarket Costco offered already extracted and frozen durian pulp for a bargain price of 27 dollars per 400g. Of course I had to pull the trigger on that deal. Bravely, I tried the freshly thawed mango-like pieces lying in the package. Of course, you have to ignore the smell of rotting onions, and you can't keep the fruit in the refrigerator without stinking up the whole apartment, even through double plastic bags the stench finds its way. The taste is ... interesting. Certainly mango-like, but also nutty, and also with a gasoline-like flavor, so you don't know if it really harmonizes with the digestive tract. And indeed, I tossed and turned a bit after consuming the fruit at night. Angelika also tried a piece, but she was remarkably restrained when it came to a second helping. Conclusion: You should try it, but honestly, I prefer a good ripe mango.

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Latest update: 11-Mar-2023