Asia's King of fruit..

What other fruit can give off a trail of scent that lasts for days? What other fruit can kill when its thrown at you? Seems like its an obvious answer - the durian.

This thorny fruit is unique in its taste. A little bitter in some, sweet in others. In Singapore, the durian is often called the forbidden fruit. Its forbidden in public transports, hotels etc. Its rather obvious to why its not allowed in certain places, its the way it smells.This fruit carries its own cologne that is really strong or perhaps pungent some may say. It could take many days to get rid of that stench from your car or room.

Behind this fruit lies many myths. Ever heard about durian mixing with alcohol causes death? Not sure how true this is but linking this concoction with death, many people rather choose to believe the myth. I have been searching for an answer but never found one. Asked doctors and they often shrugged it off saying its not true but when I asked if they tried mixing it, they'll say no.

It is also said that when one washes his or her hands with the thorny shell after eating the fruit, the stench on the hands will go away. I tried it a number of times too but only to find myself disappointed with that same familiar smell lingering in my fingers. It just cannot go away.

I read somewhere in a magazine recently claiming that a scientist found that the durian husk can be used as a kind of fuel in the future, to generate energy for moving cars and provide electricity. Can you imagine the smell of our environment next time? I can't imagine durian husks all over the city.

I guess the only truth about the King of Fruit is its high levels of saturated fats and a contributor of high cholesterol. So the next time you want to eat that very last piece left unfinished, you had better think twice.