Durian

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Durian / Durio / are a genus of tropical trees that are distributed mainly in the southeastern parts of Asia. The fruits durian are large, prickly and rich in many vitamins in minerals. The ripe fruit can weigh up to 4 kg. On the underside, the leaves of the trees are silver or golden yellow. Many call durian the king of fruits because it is a rare and very expensive delicacy. The name "durian" comes from the Malay word "duri" - "thorn".

The large fruit has a creamy golden color of the flesh and is prickly on the outside. In Thailand and a number of Asian countries, durian is considered to be the most delicious fruit with excellent taste. There are more than 200 varieties of durianbut the most famous in Thailand are Gahn-yao with a long stem, Mon-tong with an elongated shape and Cha-nee, which has an irregular shape.

Durian flowers are light yellow and dissolve in less than 24 hours. The only disadvantage of this exotic fruit is the extremely sharp and unpleasant odor. Traveler Richard Sterling defines the smell of the fruit as a mixture of turpentine, onions and pork feces.

Due to its pungent odor, durian is banned from buses, planes and public transport in some Asian countries. Durian grows in hot and humid climates. The fruits ripen slowly - for about 4-5 months. When the harvest ripens, like our pears, the durian falls to the ground.

Composition of durian

Durian is extremely rich in sugar, vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, tryptophan, protein and fat. 100 g durian contain 1 g of protein, 27 g of carbohydrates, 147 kcal and 5 g of fat.

Selection and storage of durian

Durian is an exotic fruit that is offered in Europe / including Bulgaria / in the months from April to July. You can find it in larger food chains. Keep in mind that the fruit can reach a length of 30 cm, a diameter of 15 cm and a weight of up to 4 kg.

The fruit itself is covered with thick skin with thorns. Depending on the type, the color of the shell changes from green to brown, and of the core - from light yellow to red.

Durian in cooking

The taste of durian is a bit strange for the European - it resembles a mixture of garlic, onion and cheese. However, this does not bother the locals of Thailand, nor the animals / especially the elephants, which eat sweetly from the fallen fruit on the ground /.

The durian It is used as a spice in many Thai dishes, including rice, coconut milk or as a filling for various pasta. In Western cuisine, the fruit is added to flavor mousses, ice creams, pastries and pies. Durian seeds are also consumed because they are very rich in minerals and proteins.

However, they must undergo heat treatment. To this day, in Thailand, the skin of the fruit is used to decorate various fabrics.

You can consume durian raw, seasoned with salt and pepper. It is also added to jams and candies.

Benefits of durian

Durian is a fruit with high nutritional value. It is often recommended as an effective source of crude fat, but at the same time it should not be overused due to the large amount of fatty acids it contains.

Some studies show that durian has a beneficial effect on the detoxification of the body. According to some scientists, it is also a very good aphrodisiac. Durian is rich in estrogen and can increase female fertility.

In Malaysia, they used a decoction of the roots and leaves of the plant as a means of reducing fever - the juice of them was rubbed into the patient's head. In the countries where it is grown, people believe that durian warms the body and if you eat it before bed you will not need a blanket.

Durian cleanses the lungs and airways. Despite its many beneficial properties, durian should not be consumed by pregnant women and people with high blood pressure.