A Review of Durian

I've heard a LOT about Durians in my life time, but i had never actually tried this mystery fruit. Until last night. I got a text from my friend last night that said just a couple of words that changed my life "My place, Durian party".

Durian is an Asian fruit, that usually you never really find good ones here in the U.S., or so i've been told. Provo has an Asian market (that's name is 'Asian Market'...yeah i'm a little skeptical on that one too) that had Durians in the freezer. If i remembered the exact instructions on where to find it i'd tell you. Something about going past the cashier, left?, a freezer, and bottom row. Also- i guess you have to be a bit of a connoisseur to pick a good Durian: must smell right, sound right, and look right.

I approached my friend with my roommate last night and saw a thickly shelled fruit that had a knife sticking out of it.

"How in the world do i eat this?!"
"Just kind of grab some, and pull. It's better towards the seeds."

Only one thought came to mind when i saw the actual fruit: This looks like slug flesh.

Apparently the other people eating it didn't really appreciate my thought process... I looked at it and then at my friend, my look asking him if i really had to eat it, then i thought "What the heck, carpe diem".

He picked up a bit of the flesh and handed it to me, the time had come.

In all honesty, the first bite was suuuper gross. It tasted like wet onions, but better? My Mom always used to say, "You need to at least try 3 bites of it!", when she made something gross-like fish- for dinner. So i picked up another glop of Durian and swallowed it. "Not too bad...." Third try was a little bigger. "Hey, this is actually pretty good...."

Basically i sat there eating Durian for the next 15 minutes or so. It wasn't fantastic, but it was actually pretty good. On a scale of one to ten i'd say a solid 6.5.

So if you have a chance to try Durian- DO IT- but that doesn't mean you have to like it. I'll love you anyways.

What i want to try next:

Durian Desserts

Durian Softserve

Durian Fruit Bar! 

Durian Chips! 

On a side note: We were eating it outside last night and now i remember why. Some places in Asia have signs that actually ban people from eating Durian there. Why? Because it REEKS.