Durian or Civet fruit

Durio Zibethinus

Synonyms : Durion/Dourian (French), Thurian (Thaïland).


Introduction to Durian : The Durian is the fruit of trees from the genius Durio, composed of 30 species native to Southeast Asia. Only nine of them produce edible fruit. However, some unknown species which have never been discovered, studied or collected could produce edible fruits. We have decided to study the specie Durio Zibethinus because it is the only one available in the international market. It is the only specie commercially cultivated on a large scale and available outside of its native region. Others are commercialised but in their local markets of the regions where they are cultivated.


Origin : The Durian is native to Malaysia and Borneo. The name of Durian comes from Malay language "duri", meaning thorn.


Area of culture : Now, the fruit is cultivated in the major part of Southeast Asia. The main producers of the Durian fruit are : Indonesia, Malaysia and Thaïland. Thailand is not the native place of Durian but Thaïland is currently the major exporter of Durian : 781 000 tonnes per year.


It is known in Asia as the " KING OF FRUIT" !




Description : Durian trees are relatively large and can grow up to 30-40 meters depending to the species. Branches are strong and horizontal. Leaves are evergreen, dark green and elliptic. The lower side of the leaves is covered by a silver fuzz.





The flowers are produced by groups of 3 to 30 on adult branches and directly on the trunk. They are composed of 3 to 6 petals. The coulour of the flowers is yellow-white.




The Durian fruit is distinctive from the others by its large size from 20cm to 30cm long and 15cm in diameter. As an illustration of its large size, you hav to know that the Durian fruit is 5 to 6 times higher than a mango. His weigh can afford more than 5kg. His shape vary from round to oblong.
His particularity excepted his large size comes from its strange looking : a thorn,woody, covered of husks of one centimeter.

When the fruit is reaching ripeness, the colour of his husk becomes yellow/green to brown depending to the species, and his flesh pale yellow to red. Ripe fruit emits also a unique odour, strong and penetrating when the husk is intact. This odour is considered as offensive by some people and some compared it to "milk which had gone off". Some people have compared the odour to the one of rotting onions or unwashed socks or smell feet..
The disagreable odour has led to the fruit banishment from certain public transportation in Southeast Asia !

Quote about the odour of the Durian fruit by Richard Streling :
"... its odor is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away. Despite its great local popularity, the raw fruit is forbidden from some establishments such as hotels, subways and airports, including public transportation in Southeast Asia."

From a biologist side, the fruit splits in 4 to 5 compartiments and each room contained one to six seeds surrounded by a flesh, odourless, edible and creamy. The colour of this pulp is between white and yellowish.

Climate conditions/cultural methods : Durian trees have one or two blooming and fruiting periods per year, thought the timing depends on the species, cultivars and localities. It is a seasonal fruit, it means that he is not available throughout the year. The Durian season is May throughout October.

The Durian fruit is a strictly tropical fruit : it stops growing up when the temperature drops below 22°C. Durian is cultivated in some regions of low altitude, until 700m and also in humid regions. Soil have to be deep.

The Durian is ready to harvest when it begins to crack.

Uses : Most commonly, the Durian fruit is eaten raw. In Southeast Asia, the flesh is also used to prepare ice cream. Fruits are consumed as good as ripe, fermented, dried or transformed in pastry. The Durian fruit considered as aphrodisiac is used against a lot of diseases. The legend says : "When the durians come down from the trees, the sarongs come off".