Julia Altshuler wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> And if you've never smelled Durian before, be prepared to wear an
>> oxygen mask
>
> I'd seen discussion of durian here but never come across one in real
> life before a few weeks ago. I was in Calgary at the Super Store.
> (For those have never been, the place is a treat, like 10 specialty
> ethnic groceries stores packed into one giant supermarket.) I saw
> the sign saying durian before I located the actual item: a big brown
> spiky thing, like the vegetable equivalent of a porcupine.
>
Yep, until it's peeled it does sort of look like that.

http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~durian/

> I'd heard about the smell so I approached cautiously and put my nose
> up to it. I couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary. Is it a
> deal where the odor is released when it is cut into?
>
Yes indeed! When I lived in Bangkok, they'd cut it into halves or quarters
to sell. When you went to the outdoor markets you could smell the durian
from a block away. The best I can compare the smell to is really unwashed
gym socks (or limburger cheese). Surprising! considering the fruit is sweet
and mild tasting. I gather it's sort of a natural defense mechanism (maybe
to save it from the monkeys).

Jill