This is the most stinky fruit in the world, and the reason for its very bad smell

Durian, nicknamed the "King of Fruits," is one of the most popular foods in Southeast Asia. Loved by millions, it is considered a delicacy. There is only one problem: it is also known as the most stinky fruit in the world. The smell of durian fruit has been compared to garbage, sewage, and sweaty socks!

In fact, durian smells so pungent that it has been banned on public transport, airports and hotels in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and elsewhere. Let's just say, it's definitely a mistake in etiquette to open them in small, enclosed spaces.

Due to its unpleasant reputation, you won't see it in glamorous Asian movies like Crazy Rich Asians. Many dietary fanatics only know durian because of its unpleasant smell, but it's a snack that's very popular in China and Southeast Asia. So what exactly is durian, and what makes it smell so bad? Given its non-aromatic reputation, why do people love it so much?

What is durian?

Durian is a fruit native to southern China and Southeast Asia. They are large, with a prickly brown-green appearance that you can open to eat fruit. (The spines are so sharp that few deaths have been recorded due to durian - imagine you read that in an obituary!) Inside is a thick, spiral, custard-like fruit that grows around large seeds, resembling an avocado kernel. The color of the pulp can range from red to golden yellow, but it is generally pale yellow.

While durian is known for its bad smell, it is also very popular in Malaysia, Thailand, China and Indonesia, among other places. It's even considered a delicacy, and it's priced accordingly – it's not unusual to see durian costing between $20 to $30 per pound!

What does durian smell like?

The aroma of durian fruit is very characteristic but difficult to describe. Once you smell it, you'll recognize it anywhere, along the way! I had a durian experience with a Malaysian friend, and it was definitely a unique experience.

To try to visualize the smell of durian, imagine if the fruit were stored in the sweaty athletic sock of a teenage boy. The scent was thick and unconventional, like onion chunks, but mixed with the ripe fruity aroma you get from the overly soft mango. They certainly contain garlic elements and rotten eggs. It smelled like a seventh-grade gym for girls: a combination of body odor and melon-scented body spray. The viscous parts of the floor are on the Asian market. A lighted sandalwood candle scented with a scent of sweat. Eau de toilette sprinkled on blue cheese. Vanilla pudding is cooked in the public bath. Have you got a mental image (nasal?) yet?

My girlfriend offered a different point of view: she never understood why people think durian smells so bad. It's a specific scent, for sure, and definitely strong. But for her, it's just the smell of fruit stalls in Malaysia.

Why does durian smell so bad?

What makes durian so stinky? A scientific study analyzed the pungent odor of durian into 44 different odor-producing chemical compounds. One of the most interesting facts in the report is that it was the first time that three of these compounds were discovered in a natural product. That's why durian smells so unique – chemically, there's nothing else quite like it!

But it's not just one compound that produces the infamous durian fruit's scent, it's a combination of them all. The researchers described each of the odor compounds they discovered in durian; the list includes honey, roasted onions, sulfur, caramel, soup seasonings, rotten eggs, rotten cabbage, skunks and fruits.

What does durian taste like?

Fortunately, durian tastes better than smells! It has a complex flavor that is unlike any other fruit.

Personally, I think durian has a tropical taste, with almost the same kind of floral tones you get in lychee. I found it to have a fruity taste but with a distinctive flavor, such as onions or wild cheese. It's sweet vanilla cream, topped with a delicious garlic flavor. My friend compares it to cream cheese, with a flavor that can fluctuate between salty and sweet. The pulp is thick and firm.

Durian comes in a large variety of flavors, depending on the breed and growing conditions. Tour guides who taste durian online promise fruit with a taste like caramelized apples, snickers chocolate, and more. Each individual fruit is described as having different tones of chocolate, coffee and custard. Some durian fruits can be sweeter, sour, or tastier than others. The durian flavor even changes inside the fruit itself: the pulp tastes different from the pulp closest to the seeds!

How is durian eaten?

To eat durian fruits, tear off the prickly outer part and devour the fruit from the seeds. But be careful: the aroma of durian fruit can remain inside. To get rid of the smell, treat it as if you were getting rid of the fish smell in your kitchen. In Malaysia, it is common to see locals brushes newspaper on their doorstep to eat their fresh durrian outside.

Durian is a popular flavor in snacks, cakes, desserts and more. It's also used in some delicious, perhaps unforgettable meals at Dorian Pizza Pizza Hut, a limited-edition offer in Shanghai. Although I can't guarantee its flavor, I can say that the pizza was so popular that it sold out when we tried to order it.