The durian is a type of tropical fruit predominantly found in Southeast Asia. The fruit is green to brown, oblong to round, prickly with strong sharp thorns and emits a strong, distinctive smell that for most people is offensive-smelling.
The durian is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, although it can grow in any similar climate. The center of ecologic diversity for durian is the island of Borneo. Thailand is a major exporter of durians. Other places where durian is grown include Mindanao in the Philippines, Queensland in Australia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka.
Because the fruit's odour is offensive to some people, it is forbidden to bring durians as hand luggage on to aircraft belonging to some airlines. They are also forbidden on the Singapore public transit system.
Many people regard the durian to be a very tasty fruit; it is often called the "king of fruits" by locals. Some Westerners have described the fruit as "like eating custard in a public lavatory". The mild-tasting, large seeds can be roasted and eaten.
The durian tree grows up to 40 metres in height and durians can hang from any branches, and a typical durian can weigh 1-2 kg, so a durian plantation during durian season is hardhat territory. A durian falling on a person's head can cause serious injuries.
The scientific name for the durian of commerce is Durio zibethinus. Other edible durian species are sometimes available in the local markets of Southeast Asia. The scientific name of other species are Durio kutejensis, Durio oxlevanus, Durio graveolens, and Durio dulcis.
There are many clones of the durian, all having a name starting with D and a number. For example, some popular clones are D24, D99, D158 and D159 (this is the 'Mon Thong' variety).
In the Philippines, the center of durian production is Davao Region in Mindanao. The Kadayawan festival is an annual celebration featuring the durian in Davao City.
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