Year of the Durian

Kep: A Durian Beachside Retreat

2013-05-18T05:46:00.003-07:00

In the year that Rob and I spent combing Asia for durian, we visited the beach maybe five times. Durian typically prefers the slightly elevated interior regions, and so we spent over two months in Thailand avoiding those gorgeous stretches of white sand I always see in travel magazines. Rob actually does hate sand. But I would happily be a beach babe, and in Kep I finally got my days of sun,

Durian Island: Koh Kong Cambodia

2013-05-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like about durian hunting is that it has a tendency to lead me off the beaten track, even in heavily tourist-ed areas. There are no beaten tracks in Koh Kong. Koh Kong is the southwestern-most province in Cambodia, and is still largely unpopulated. Most of the interior is accessible only by boat and the mountains are home to Asian elephants, wild ox, leopards, and tigers.

A Very Durian Border Crossing: Hat Lek/Koh Kong

2013-05-13T08:26:00.002-07:00

It's pretty well established that crossing overland into Cambodia is asking to get ripped off. Whether it's bogus visa sellers, fake quarantine tents, artificially elevated transport prices or corrupt officials, somebody's getting more cash than they should. I remembered that Rob and I had a little trouble last year when we took the Ban Pakard/Prum crossing, but I thought that was because we

The Inedible Durians

2013-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Of the 27 species of durian, only a handful are generally considered good enough to eat. The main qualifier for the "edible" category seems to be a relatively high flesh-to-seed ratio. The rest aren't poisonous, but their palatability is in the tongue of the beholder. Most, but not all, have only a very thin layer of flesh. Others have no flesh at all, only shiny bare seeds. Some have strong

Laplae Durian Festival Schedule 2013

2013-05-11T22:14:00.000-07:00

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Chanthaburi One Year Later

2013-05-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Chanthaburi, Thailand too early for the Chanthaburi Durian Festival but just in time for a gathering of durian freaks. My friend Grant Campbell hosts a shindig for raw foodists every year, usually during the festival. Grant is the two year reigning champion of the durian speed eating competition. This year's festival was delayed to June 1-10th due to some bad storms, but Grant

Durio Grandiflorus

2013-05-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

sketch by Masters This is the last in a series about edible durian species. It's definitely the saddest, because there is no picture of the fruit. I'm trying not to be a crybaby about this. Of all the durian species on Borneo, I was the most excited about Durio grandiflorus, known locally as the ghost durian. I didn't believe that finding it would be hard, as it apparently grows all over

Durio Mansoni

2013-05-03T04:19:00.004-07:00

Drawing by Joseph Hooker, 1922 This is Durio mansoni. Sorta. It's the only wild durian species endemic to Thailand and Myanmar, but for now we can only guess what it looks like. That's partly why I'm so excited to be returning to Thailand. These undocumented durian species leave a lot of room for adventure! I'm pretty certain I know where a tree is, and with any luck I'll be replacing

Durio Wyatt-Smithii

2013-05-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

This durian is one of the more obscure of the durian species. Although it is accepted in the scientific community as a separate species, no one has made a complete description of the fruit. So why am I bothering to write a whole post about it? Because supposedly it tastes good, and that's what matters. There's an adventure waiting for anyone wishing to confirm its palatability.

Durio Graveolens

2013-05-01T04:47:00.002-07:00

Durio graveolens is the poster child of the jungle durians. That ravishingly red interior is so shockingly bright many people question the use of food coloring. It's also one of the most popular durian species, sold widely in markets throughout Borneo. Many people actually prefer it to regular durian, and with good reason. Despite it's notoriety (or maybe because of it), Durio graveolens is

Durian News: April 2013

2013-04-30T04:28:00.001-07:00

We interrupt the series on edible durian species to bring you this month's durian news. Durian never fails to cause controversy somewhere. In this month's edition , a durian fanatic (it wasn't me, I swear!) flies into a temper tantrum in a Chinese airport when officials deny passage of her beloved fruit, a durian inspector's life is threatened after he exposes some shady durian business,

Durio Zibethinus

2013-04-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

Durio zibethinus is the durian most commonly sold throughout Southeast Asia. This is the durian that is banned in hotels and on subways, and that has grounded planes with its infamous odor. It is the only durian species widely cultivated and purposefully bred. It has adapted to different climates and rain patterns, and changed to fit the cultural desires of people all over Southeast

Durio Testudinarum

2013-04-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Rob and I were lucky to find Durio testudinarum twice in Borneo, as it is one of the rarest edible durian species. Many people don't consider it edible because of the strong, musky odor it has when ripe. Yet the flavor is sweet and juicy, a contrast to the usually heavy durian. That's reason enough to appreciate this jungle durian. Where it get its fame is that instead of growing on the

Durio Lowianus

2013-04-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

In the jungles and backyards of Malaysia and Southern Thailand grows a species of durian that nobody really seems to know about. At least, nobody realizes it's anything special because on the surface it looks very similar to the durians sold in markets throughout Asia. A little bit different maybe, but nothing to make a fuss about. It's so discreet, that it completely slipped under our

Durio Kinabaluensis

2013-04-26T04:27:00.001-07:00

On the steep hillsides of the Crocker Mountain Range grows a unique durian species that thrives at high elevations. Although uncultivated and generally neglected by botanists and agronomists, it's a local favorite for its simple sweet flavor. It's still one of the least well known of the edible jungle durians, although it is easy to find if you know where to look. Photo courtesy of

Durio Dulcis Beccari

2013-04-25T03:58:00.002-07:00

Everything about Durio dulcis is just a little bit magical. The tree is one of the more rare durians, residing deep in the jungles of Borneo. When in season, the red orbs dot the leafy forest floor like fallen Christmas ornaments, that sensational red leaping out of the green foliage like a natural stop light. It's the strongest smelling durian, and its odor is said to waft as much as

Durio Kutejensis Hassk. Becc.

2013-04-24T05:04:00.003-07:00

Durio kutejensis is the favorite durian of Brunei. With its pineapple-cream brilliantly orange flesh, it's no wonder that this is the only wild durian species widely cultivated. It's fruity aroma is generally considered pleasant, and local durian authorities suggest that this may be the durian most suitable to those unfamiliar with durian or who just can't take normal durian funk.

Durio Oxleyanus Griffith

2013-04-23T05:19:00.001-07:00

Durio oxleyanus is a petite, pretty durian with long green spines. It's powdered sugar sweetness is encased in a creamy, mildly fruity flesh that is totally lacking in durian aroma. It's a wonder this little-known durian is not the belle of durian markets across Southeast Asia. Rob and I didn't start looking for Durio oxleyanus until we got to Borneo. Like most people, we

A Complete List of Durian Species

2013-04-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a series about Wild Durian Species. For the next two weeks, I'll be posting information about one edible durian species every day. Shortly thereafter I will be resuming the durian hunt in Cambodia. Enjoy! When most people think about durian, they have a pretty monochromatic picture of the fruit. It's big, its colors range from brown to green, and it tastes like sulfur

Moving to Asia

2013-04-14T21:15:00.002-07:00

Yup, you read that right. Rob and I are moving to Southeast Asia. After a brief stint in the United States, where we depended on frozen durian in a box, we will be soon be living in the heart of durian country. Are we excited? Heck yes! Be on the lookout for more durian stories and adventures in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Cambodia in the coming months. We leave tomorrow for our new home

An Interview with Durianrider

2013-04-10T23:26:00.002-07:00

Durianrider is a controversial health and fitness YouTube celebrity who speaks about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle following the raw food and vegan diet. He's known for his tough love approach, zany sense of humor, and sometimes unconventional approach to getting his point across. This prickly exterior has won him many admirers and a few enemies, much like his namesake fruit. Find out

The Big Durian - Movie Review

2013-04-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

I get excited about durian. Whether it's eating durian, talking about durian, or reading about durian, I love durian. I also like saying the word durian (durian!) So imagine my excitement when I discovered this documentary film titled The Big Durian. No, it's not about Jakarta, although the admittedly stinky city is often known by that moniker. It's about politics and racial relations in

Durian News: March 2013

2013-04-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Big news on the durian front this March. A bumper durian crop is sweeping East Indonesia and Davao City, Philippines, where some big developments mean that Filipino durian may be coming soon to grocery stores near you! On another exciting front, a durian movie premiered this last month, taking it's place with The Big Durian (2003) and Durian Durian (2000). The 75-minute Indie film, which

Durian Easter Bunnies

2013-03-30T23:53:00.003-07:00

In my last post, I said I didn't know whether or not bunnies eat durian. Well, a quick YouTube search cleared that one up. Bunnies LOVE durian. Check out these two bunnies in the videos below as they go crazy over eating durian. Hoppy Easter! Here's an idea for what to do with leftover durian shells - feed them to your pets! You Might Also Like: Feeding

Easter in Thailand's Durian Capital

2013-03-28T22:17:00.001-07:00

On Easter last year Rob and I had just arrived in Chanthaburi, Thailand, the site of the World Durian Festival. We were on the look out for durians, but kept finding bunny rabbits. I'm serious. Rabbits run amok in Chanthaburi. The furry little guys share real estate with durians throughout the old city on road signs, lamp posts, government seals, and more. It's a wee bit ridiculous,