Durians

From the Oxford Companion to Food, a bit of doggerel from Horticulture. It helps to know that Alfred Russell Wallace was extremely fond of the stinking fruit.

The durian–neither Wallace or Darwin agreed on it.

Darwin said ‘may your worst enemies be forced to feed on it’.

Wallace cried ‘it’s delicious’.

Darwin replied ‘I’m suspicious,

For the flavor is scented

Like papaya fermented

After a fruit- eating bat has pee’d on it’.

2 comments

  1. I would suggest an aroma somewhere between woodcock or bluefish and raw sewage. The whole attraction is the rich, oily, custardy texture.

    –Mark Zanger

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