PLATOO TRAVEL MAGAZINE Issue 01/November 2014 | Página 14

Thai fruits 9 Thai Fruits D urian or “King of fruits”. It is distinctive for its large size, formidable thorn-covered husk and strong odour. If you want to talk about it until you can imagine, I will refer writing in 1856. The British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace provides a much-quoted description of the flavour of the durian: “The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the edible part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience.” Do you want to taste a durian? You can find it everywhere in Thailand.