Durian: The world's priciest fruit with an infamous stench

It is considered the most expensive fruit in the world. In 2019, it was sold at an auction for around $47,000. But interestingly, even the wealthy can't enjoy its taste everywhere, and possessing it can even cause trouble. This is all due to the very strong smell of this spiky fruit.

However, this fruit is probably more often associated with its smell than its high price. Its aroma is described as repulsive, even stinky. It is described as a mixture of the stench of rotten fish, a crowded street dirty with sewage, and a rotten egg. For this reason, durian is banned in many places, even in Asia, where it is considered a delicacy. Due to durian, you can get into trouble on airplanes, public transport, or in hotels. Its smell is so strong that it can cause nausea.

Diverse sulphur compounds present in the flesh and released when the fruit's tissues are cut or mechanically damaged are behind it. About 40 sulphur compounds have been identified in durian, the most abundant being hydrogen sulphide. Because of this, the smell of durian is dominated by the aroma of rotten eggs. Notes of garlic, leeks, milk, and cheese are also detectable. Together, they create a rather unusual mix, especially for a fruit. Its smell can be detected from a distance of several hundred metres, which is why you can find signs banning its entry in Asian shopping malls and hotels.

Despite the smell, there are many willing to try it. In Thailand, at a market, the most expensive fruit in the world costs around 459 Thai Baht, or about $3.60 per kilogram. Durian prices vary depending on the region. In some places where the fruit is more available, you can eat it for the equivalent of just a few dollars.

Among the dozens of durian species, only 11 are edible, and on the international market, you can find only one variety: Durio zibethinus. Interest in this fruit can reach absurd proportions. In 2019, such a fruit was sold for $47,000. The supposed reason for durian's uniqueness is that each one tastes different.

What does the smelly fruit taste like? First, you have to get to it. It's covered with a skin full of thick spikes. Once you cut it open, you reach the inside, which hides flesh with a texture resembling a banana or avocado. The taste is slightly tart but fruity. It combines the flavours of almonds, caramel, turpentine and onions, creating a unique mixture. Who would want to try it?