Durian!

It smells like rotting flesh. It looks like a spiky dinosaur egg. After four months in Southeast Asia we finally got up the courage to try the strange fruit for the first time. Our guesthouse on Penang, Malaysia was also a small time durian producer, so after staying a few days, it was only natural that the owner, the elderly Miss Loh would kindly offer us a taste.

Her daughter handled the fruit with thick gloves and prized it open for us with a wooden stake. Inside were just three bean-shaped seeds, each the size of a squashed plum. The seeds were covered in a creamy white goo, enveloped by a thin membrane. Up close it smelled like stinky feet. I plunged my fingers into the goo and tentatively had a taste. Then another.

The consistency was just like custard. The flavour is much harder to describe. It is a little like a strong fruity cheese. Sugary but with a peculiar damp aftertaste.

Peter choked his down so the experience wouldn't last too long. I slowly ate the pulp off the last seed, trying to understand the flavour.

“How did you like it?” Miss Loh asked.
“It was okay,” Peter nodded.
“It's very unusual,” I said.
“Like custard?” Miss Loh asked.
“Yes!” I said, pleased others have had the same association. “Just like custard.”
“We ate it all,” Peter said.

Miss Loh looked pleased. “A lot of people don't like it when they first try,” Miss Loh said. “Then they eat it again and again and like it more.”

I agreed that made sense.

“Would you like to try another one?” Miss Loh asked.

Could I eat another one immediately out of politeness?

“Ooh, not right now thank you,” Peter said. “We'd better let this one settle first.” He patted his stomach. Thank you Peter!

I placed the empty shell and seeds on the compost heap. Miss Loh's dogs excitedly licked the fruit clean.

- Penang, Malaysia