TASTE OF DAVAO: THE DURIAN FRUIT

As soon as we step outside the Davao City airport, we immediately get a view of a gigantic durian monument!

I saw lots of durian for sale along the road!

When we went as far as Tagum City, I saw that they welcomed everyone to their Durian Festival.

Then, I am now in Mabini, Compostela Valley Province and previously, part of Davao Del Norte.

Finally, here we have the Durian in front of our eyes and served to us.

I thought that the Durian is uniformly spiky but it is not.

 

 

I thought the spikes are soft, but it is not...Oh, it is so painful to touch and in fact, they used the kitchen pads to hold it!!!

This is about the DURIAN in Wikipedia!

The durian  /ˈdjʊriən/)^[2] is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family^[1][3](although some taxonomists place Durio in a distinct family, Durionaceae^[1]).

Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs one to three kilograms (2 to 7 lb). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and revolting. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

And when opened, this is how it looks!

 

And this is how everyone loves it!!!

Everyone of all ages enjoy it!!!

Actually, the taste really takes getting used to.

In the ComVal area, they say it cost P30 to 40 per kilo and maybe about P45 per kilo in Tagum. 
I still have to find out how much it is in Davao City and Zamboanga City!

Even in Davao, they refuse the Durian into some  (or is most?) hotels.

I asked the lady and she was about to give me a litany of reasons... of course, she didn't have to say that it was because of the strong distinct odor... not fragrance to most!

Well, the durian sweets and confections are fine with me - less hassle and all!!!