What kind of durian is Black Pearl durian, and how does its taste differ?

“It smells like hell but tastes like heaven”, “the king of fruits”, “the smelliest fruit in the world” - these are just some of the expressions people use to describe Black Pearl durian or any durian.

The controversial fruit Black Pearl durian is just one of the many types of durian. Durian is a seasonal fruit that is very common in Asia. The Black Pearl durian variety is said to have originated in Johor, Malaysia. Also known as Black Pearl, it has a pale yellow to light gray color. The texture is smooth and creamy, and the taste is slightly bitter. The rind or skin is yellow-green and turns slightly brown when ripe. Compared with other durians, the Black Pearl has smaller seeds. By the way, the seeds are not edible.

Food writer Richard Sterling wrote: “Its odor is best described as...turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from the pier“. Because of its extremely pungent and nauseating smell, durian is actually banned in many public places, such as airplanes, hotels and even the MRT in Singapore.

So how do you eat durian? Most people eat it fresh and raw. In Asia, it is common to see fruit stalls selling fresh ripe durian, and they will open the fruit in front of you so you can eat it on the spot. Some people will even cover their noses while eating it, and some will smell it and feel disgusted by it and still eat it.

Can't even stand this funny-looking, spiky fruit? Well, you can try durian-flavored ice cream, fried chips, durian candy and custard. Once you've got the hang of it, then maybe, just maybe, you can try eating fresh Black Pearl durian.

Black Pearl durian and other durian varieties are also used in traditional Asian medicine, both as a fever treatment and as an aphrodisiac.Durian is very popular in Southeast Asia, but it is also hated by many people. Give it a try and decide which side you are on.