Just tried my first fresh durian. I've been eating the candied form for many years, and freeze-dried pulp for the last couple years. And I had once tried a frozen one from a market in Orlando. But this was my first truly fresh one (grown on the Big Island of Hawaii, where the American Society for Horticultural Science meetings are taking place this week). It was delicious! Strong banana/coconut/caramel taste, slightly sweet, with very strong French onion soup. The odor was much like ethyl mercaptan (think leaking propane), but none of that in the flavor. Also in this case, no hint of sweaty feet, essence of landfill, nor rotting fish, which often accompany it. So it was a good experience!

Hahaha. I'm from Malaysia and have noticed how durian is an acquired taste, especially for those who have only smelled its "stink" before.

haha well at least someone likes it. I had 5 or 6 friends over back in the summer and we all tried our first fresh durian.... YUCK!! I will say, the taste is much better than the smell but still couldn't go for more than a small bite or two. We all had a good laugh that day.

But it is a fascinating fruit, beautiful in it's own right.

-Luke

They certainly change your attitude toward fragrances and flavors; I am the only person I know who now gets hungry for durian when driving past a land fill or behind a garbage truck, since the aroma is so similar. I realize that's just bizarre (some might say sick), but it's true.

I guess I will never have that experience.

I'm not sure if that should make me happy or sad!

Has anyone tried sprouting the fresh seeds? I planted about 6 in warm-ish, moist potting soil the same day as eating the fruit but they all rotted out.

-Luke

ive grown some in hk,very slow growing at first,I started mine in a dish of water ,change it everyday , pot up in soil after about a week or when you see a tap root....artie