Durian

Durian fruit from Davao, Philippines. On sale in Metro Manila. Photo by Angie Pastor.

The durián is the fruit of a tree belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family. People often mistake it for the jackfruit but it is different.

The edible flesh of the durián emits a distinctive odour even when its husk is intact. Some people find it fragrant; others disgusting. In Singapore, it is even forbidden to bring the fruit on the subway because of the smell.

Mindanao, the large island in the southern part of the Philippines, is where most of the durian in the country is grown.