Durian Adventure: From Stench to Sweetness

"I'd like to have some durian; I love it. Do you know a good durian seller?"

I could not believe what Kat, a friend from Poland, said to me. I don't usually find European people who even like the smell of durian. Well, I could believe when somebody from Asia says they like durian.

So, on our day trip somewhere in Bali, we stopped at a local shop near a road in Tampaksiring village.

For its bad smell (or good smell if you are a fan of this round, spiky fruit), durian is not for everybody. However, most people on our island love durian. Some stay away from it. What about you (yes, you!)? Have you tried it? If not, join me into a wild adventure of trying durian.

The Fruit that Smells Like Hell but Tastes Like Heaven

Yup! That's the definition of a durian I read on a guide book to Bali.

Because of its smell, it's not allowed to bring durian to certain places. That's why it's a bad idea to bring durian to hotels, restaurants, or airplanes in Bali. No, don't try to smuggle it; people will find out.

You wonder what it smells like?

Well, once, I asked a client from Australia to try to smell this fruit. After smelling the fruit, he looked right at me with red eyes and said, "It smells like a toilet that has not been flushed for twenty years."

Hmm, you know, I think he's exaggerating.

Another client, who stayed somewhere in an Ubud hotel, told me that when she stayed in her room, there was a smell in the air that was so bad and so strong that it caused her a headache. Later, she found out that there were durian sellers by the street near the hotel where she stayed.

For its smell, the people in Bali prefer not to transport this spiky, round fruit inside their cars. The durian smell will last at least a week in a car after the durian is removed from it. To transport durian, people usually tie the durian underneath their cars.

So, that's how strong the durian smell is!

How does it taste? If you ask me, it tastes sweet and creamy. But, while the taste is sweet, sometimes there is a sensation of weak bitterness that kicks in.

The fruit is soft. Sometimes, when it is too ripe, it is like taking margarin with your hands.

Local people are crazy about eating durian, especially during the season. More than 90 percent of the population (um, it's my estimation) like it. Me? It's all right. I would not travel tens of kilometers just to get durian, like most people.

The sellers in the village usually hang durians in front of their shop or just put them on the floor to sell. People will go around the seller and bargain for the durians.

Buying The Durian from A Shop by The Road in Tampaksiring

Okay, now I will continue my story with Kat and her friends when stopping for durian at the shop by the road in Tampaksiring village.

The seller where Katarzyna, her friends, and I stopped convinced us that his durians were premium and exclusive. Whatever that means! After negotiating, we had a deal. For one big durian that all of us could try (nine people), we paid USD 30. (I don't know; I feel it's a bit dear, though.)

To make sure it's ripe, he smelled the durian and said, "It smells beeeeeeautiful!" (Somehow that Australian client's voice echoed in my head, "It smells like a toilet that has not been flushed for twenty years...")

He cracked the durian with the help of a knife. The fruit inside looked yellowish, meaning it was already ripe.

The seller then gave Katarzyna a plastic glove to wear. It's for cleanliness. Katarzyna took one piece of durian and put it in her mouth. She half-closed her eyes and then said, "It's good!" All her friends rushed in and grabbed a piece. To my surprise, everybody liked it.

Note that the fruit has a date inside it. You can't eat the date, please!

Next, when you eat the durian, your breath will smell like durian. People within a 5-meter radius will know you have been to a durian fiesta. After all, it's the fruit that smells like hell but tastes like heaven.

That's all, folk. Do you think you will like the taste of durian?