Durian: the £35,000 fruit banned for its pungent odour
The world's most expensive fruit has been proclaimed as durian. Its price reached £35,000 at an auction. A person in the UK with the lowest income would have to work for 4 years to afford it.
The most expensive fruit in the world
Durian is considered the most expensive fruit in the world. In 2019, it reached a price of £35,000 at an auction. A person in the UK earning the minimum national wage would have to save for four years to gather that amount.
The fruit is as big as a watermelon and weighs 2 to 4 kg. It is particularly popular in Asia, where it grows on evergreen trees. Its odour can cause nausea.
The smell of durian
The aroma of this fruit is described as repulsive, even stinking, resembling a mix of spoiled fish, dirty streets, and old eggs. For this reason, durian is banned in many places, even in Asia where it is a delicacy. The intense smell of this fruit can cause issues on aeroplanes, public transport, or in hotels.
The source of the odour
The aroma of durian is composed of various sulphur compounds present in its flesh, which are released when the fruit is cut or damaged. About 40 sulphur compounds have been identified in durian, the most prominent being hydrogen sulphide, giving it the smell of rotten eggs. The scent also contains garlic, leek, milk, and cheese notes.
This unusual combination for fruit can be detected from distances of several hundred metres, which is why Asian shopping centres and hotels often have signs prohibiting the fruit from being brought inside.
High price
Despite its repulsive smell, many people are eager to taste durian. In Thailand, the world's most expensive fruit costs approximately ฿459 at a market, which converts to about 70p per kilo. The price of durian varies depending on the region, and in some places where it is more readily available, it can be bought for the equivalent of a few pounds.
Unique taste
Among the dozens of durian species, only 11 are edible, and on the international market, we mainly encounter the Durio zibethinus variety. Interest in this fruit can reach absurd levels. In 2019, a single fruit was sold for £35,000.
Extraordinary composition
How does this smelly fruit taste? Once you get past the skin, durian contains flesh with a consistency similar to that of banana or avocado. The taste is slightly tart, fruity, combining hints of almonds, caramel, turpentine, and onion.
