Durian
Get to know durian — the king of fruits, with a bold aroma and rich energy content. Nutrition facts, health benefits, and things to consider before eating it.
What Is Durian?
Durian (Durio zibethinus) is a tropical fruit nicknamed the "king of fruits" in Southeast Asia, known for its sharply spiked skin and its extremely strong aroma — something that some people find utterly appetizing, while others find it overpowering. Beneath its skin lies soft, creamy yellow flesh with a rich sweet flavor and a distinctive creamy texture.
Indonesia has many outstanding local durian varieties, ranging from durian montong, musang king, to durian petruk and bawor, each with slightly different levels of sweetness and texture. Durian season is always eagerly awaited by fans across the country.
Nutritional Content of Durian
Per 100 grams of fresh durian flesh:
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| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~147 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | ~27.1 g |
| Fiber | ~3.8 g |
| Vitamin C | ~19.7 mg |
| Potassium | ~436 mg |
Durian is one of the highest-calorie and highest natural-fat fruits compared to most other tropical fruits, so portion size needs to be watched.
Health Benefits
- High source of energy — its carbohydrate and fat content makes durian quite filling even in small portions.
- Supports immune function — the vitamin C it contains contributes to daily immune function.
- Helps maintain blood pressure — its fairly high potassium content helps balance sodium levels in the body.
- Contains fiber — helps support smooth digestion, although the portion of durian eaten is usually not very large.
How to Eat Durian
- Eaten fresh — the most common way, simply open the skin and enjoy the fresh flesh.
- Durian ice or durian pancakes — durian flesh combined with coconut milk, milk, or used as filling for trendy desserts.
- Ketan durian (sticky rice with durian) — durian flesh poured over warm sticky rice with coconut milk, a favorite dessert for many people.
- Tempoyak — fermented durian turned into a signature Sumatran seasoning, commonly used for cooking fish or making sambal.
How to Choose & Store
- shake the durian fruit — if you hear the sound of the flesh slightly loosening from the skin, it's a sign the fruit is ripe
- a strong, distinctive fragrant aroma usually indicates the durian is ready to eat
- avoid durian with skin that has already split wide open or that smells overly sour and pungent, a sign it has started to over-ferment
- once opened, durian flesh should be stored in a tightly sealed container in the fridge so its aroma doesn't spread to other food items
- finish it within 1-2 days for the best quality and flavor
- durian flesh can be frozen for several months without losing much of its flavor
- Durian should not be consumed together with alcoholic beverages. The high sulfur compounds in durian are believed to inhibit the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, which can cause a buildup of substances in the body and trigger uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, heart palpitations, and a feeling of heat in the body. Leave a gap of time if you want to consume both.
- Because of its fairly high calorie and sugar content, people with diabetes or those watching their weight should limit their durian portions and avoid overindulging.
Practical Tips
- Use gloves or a cloth when splitting open durian so your hands don't get hurt by its sharp thorns.
- Look for the natural lines on the durian's skin as a guide for where to split it open more easily.
- Keep the used durian skin in the fridge or in the room for a while — it's believed to help absorb durian's strong smell from the air.
- Leave a gap of time before or after drinking coffee or alcohol if you've just eaten durian, for digestive comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true that durian shouldn't be eaten together with alcohol?
Is durian safe for people with diabetes to eat?
Why does durian make the body feel so hot after eating it?
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