Durian (K♥)

Regarded by many people in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong 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 that is strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance; others find the aroma overpowering and revolting. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia.

The durian, native to Southeast Asia, has been known to the Western world for about 600 years. The nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described its flesh as "a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds". The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and it is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet edibles in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.

There are hundreds of durian cultivars; many consumers express preferences for specific cultivars, which fetch higher prices in the market.



榴莲

榴莲，別名麝香猫果。为锦葵科榴槤属植物。一般认为原产地在泰国、马来西亚、印度尼西亚、文莱。目前泰国、越南、中国等都栽培[4]。眾所周知，榴槤在東南亞被譽為“水果之王”，榴槤與眾不同的地方是它獨特的氣味以及外殼上的刺。榴槤果實可以成長至30厘米（12英寸）長，直徑15厘米（6英寸）。榴槤的形狀多是長橢圓形或圓形，颜色为綠色帶棕色，果肉呈淺黃色。赌尔焉，留连，榴莲或流连都取名自马来语“durian”音譯。

原产东南亚，有「果王」之稱。原產地包括汶萊，印度尼西亞和馬來西亞。榴槤生長地遍佈東南亞，其主要生長在泰國、马来西亚、印尼等地，其他種植榴槤地方包括柬埔寨、老撾、越南、緬甸、印度、斯里蘭卡、西印度群島、佛羅里達州、夏威夷、巴布亞新幾內亞、波利尼西亞群島、馬達加斯加、海南島、澳大利亞北部和新加坡。

榴梿是一种典型的热带水果，产地为泰国、马来西亚等国。某些品种的榴梿（例如生长于马来西亚的种）不可以采摘，否则不能继续成熟，果树也会受损伤。只有等其成熟后自己落下。榴莲树种类众多，有些种四、五年即可结果，有的要六至八年才能结果。绝大多数的榴莲树每年结果实一次，一棵树每年可产七、八十个榴莲[6]。它还有一个奇特现象就是“老茎生花”，因为它的一个果实大的重达1－2公斤，树上细小的树枝难以承受这么重，它就在主干上开花结果。是适应环境的结果。一个榴莲从树上掉下后不断成熟的二至四天内是最美味的，但经过五，六天后，大多数人会认为这时烂熟又难吃。

人类对榴梿的气味有非常极端的嗅觉反映，一部分人认为非常芳香，爱吃的人觉得很香，越吃越爱吃，越吃越上瘾；而另一部分人认为恶臭无比。它的种子也可以吃。一般很少有一种水果有如此明显的嗅觉反差，但由于考虑到公众反映，不少国家如泰国和新加坡禁止酒店、飞机和其他公共交通工具携带打开的榴梿。

成熟后自然裂口的榴梿，存放时间不能太久，当嗅闻时有一股酒精味时，就是变质了。未开口的榴梿，不成熟的有一股青草味，成熟的散发出榴梿固有的气味。

如果用手直接抓着榴莲吃，手上的味道会残留两至三天，据说用榴莲的壳当容器盛水洗手，其去除气味的效果比用肥皂洗手更好[6]。

中国文学家郁达夫在《南洋游记》中曾写道：“榴莲有如臭乳酪与洋葱混合的臭气，又有类似松节油的香味，真是又臭又香又好吃”