Durian : The Forbidden Fruit

By Enrica Edralin, Dolly Jane Ranises, Mhea Repollo, Lenin Mae Vargas

Exceptional large size. Spike-covered husk. Distinct acerbic smell. All these make up the outsized pride of Davao’s luscious delicacy –Durian. The eccentric beauty of durian is that it is a Kingdom of Wealth. Its huge size complements its sharp and fierce appearance that is comparable to a sea urchin’s form. The terrifying thorns of its shell scare people away. But once you get in depth, you can’t resist the pleasure of sucking the nutritious flesh within it. Beneath its hard, spiky husk is a soft, edible, cream-colored pulp that would certainly keep your mouth craving for its sweet taste. It leads you to savoring the striking sensation its flesh bestow. The plump tasty flesh of this tropical fruit is the wing that takes you off from the hell of its aroma and soar you to the heavens.

Some may regard its smell as disagreeable or even causing nausea. While some find its aroma enticing. Those who are foreign to this fruit despise its odor. Many countries have prohibited it on their establishments such as hotels, subways, airports, including public transportation. If the apple is known to be the “forbidden fruit” as what is was said in the bible, in reality, durian is really the “forbidden fruit” because of its smell.


The “King of the Fruits”. That is the very basic way to describe the most loved and the most hated fruit, durian. The name itself implies what kind of fruit it is. Usually, fruits’ names are given without meanings. However, durian is an exception. The word durian comes from the Malay word “duri” which means “thorns”. But its name does not only describe its physical appearance but also its role in the society. It contributes to food production since this fruit can be made into jam, candy and cake. It makes every member of the society healthy because of its high nutritional values. Yet the best quality of durian is its warming effect after eating it. This warming effect makes one’s body in heat which causes an excessive sweating. It is an inimitable delight which activates sensuality to those people who enjoys eating this fruit. Thus, this fruit may be considered as an aphrodisiac. Since, we, humans are very creative, there is a new innovation on how to use or consume durian. Its luscious taste is best not just for cakes, jam and candies. The most recent product of this provoking fruit for sex is the durian-flavored condom, the erotic feeling will still trigger when its fruit is eaten. From its smell, taste, appearance and even the process of eating it will provoke such action.

In Vietnam, the fruit’s native name is sâu riêng, which means “private sorrow”. Vietnamese believe that thorns are representation of sorrow because it causes pain and uneasiness. Durian loathed by many because of its unusual appearance and smell. In other words, this fruit is perceived as an ugly element in the society. Since its smell is very pungent, it’s like an infectious disease that no one wants to be inflicted with. If this fruit has feelings he may have low self-esteem and may pity himself because only few seem to love him. He privately grieves because he cannot do anything as he had no choice when these characteristics were given to him. Through the meaning of its name, one can already make its impression before having eaten it.



People have different ways of selecting durian fruit, to check if it is already mature enough to be eaten. Some people think that durians are ready to eat when its husk begins to crack. Some just rely in their scent by smelling the bottom part of durian. If it emits a strong smell, then it’s ready to eat. While other people use their intuition by using the tapping method. It is when a person hits the fruit with a stick and if he is able to hear a slightly hollow “thunk” sound which means that the fruit is already ripe. However, durian producers pick durians by waiting until the fruits fall 2 to 4 days for it to be fully ripened before eating it. They just wait for it to open since the durian automatically opens when it ripens.

There is a standard way in opening a durian fruit. Since the fruit is covered with spiny spikes, one must be very careful in opening it. Opening a durian fruit is somehow like solving a math problem. In Math, we use perpendicular lines in our trigonometry to create an X-axis and Y-axis. This can be applied in opening the fruit. It means etching an imaginary perpendicular line to the fruit, in one of its section, and following the Y-axis in cutting the fruit. But if you hate mathematics and you want to open it without recalling your trigonometry lessons, the easiest way to determine its opening is through the bulging part of it since the durian automatically opens when it ripens. But if looking for it still seems impossible, there is a star-like formation at the bottom that will help you know how to section the fruit to achieve perfect division.

However, how organized it was to open a durian fruit, devouring it is a mere joy and excitement. No standard rules, just how one loves and likes to eat it in his or her own way. Davaoeños as an array of unique individuality have different ways in eating Durian and they are classified into three: pinobre style( fingerlicious), sosyal style (fork&spoon), and the pa-sosyal style( cellophane dependent). The pinobre style eaters are those who prefer to use their bare hands in eating durian since in the Philippines the traditional way of eating our food is through the use of our bare hands. It is believed that our hands make the durian seems to become more tasteful when it is eaten. Since our hands naturally preserves its taste. this kind of durian eaters are also those who can’t get enough of just eating the meat but also sees a pleasure in sucking fingers dipped with the fruit’s creamy flesh. They find it satisfying especially when the taste seemed to absorb in their skin. It can lead to durian addiction.

On the other hand, the sosyal style are those who use spoon and fork in eating durian. These people are often afraid to get their fingers being stuck by the sticky meat of the fruit. Once the meat is stuck unto one’s finger it will leave its pungent smell, thus, making it difficult to expunge after eating. Usually these people are those who hate the smell but love the taste. They sometimes make the “I-Don’t-Know-How-To-Eat-Durian” or “I-Eat-Durian-Like-Eating-My-Favorite-Beefsteak” excuse so to avoid contact with the fruit’s meat. They use fork for piercing the seed and the spoon for scraping the meat out from its seed. Sometimes, this population is comprised of the elite, trying or just too scrupulous to have his or her fingers gets dirty or smelly.

Lastly, the pa-sosyal style eaters are those who are usually seen eating Durian while wearing a plastic bag in one of his or her hands. It is either the cellophane is in color red or white. These eaters are called to have a pa-sosyal style since they carry the both the attributes of the sosyal and pinobre styles. This person has an attribute of a pinobre style since he/she uses his or her hands in eating the fruit. The difference is that his or her hands are covered with cellophane. This person can also have a sosyal style of eating since he or she avoids getting in touch with the fruit’s meat to prevent sticking it into his or her fingers. The only difference is that this eater is just to avoid the smell of the meat to absorb in their skin. But still enjoys the moment of eating durian.

These three styles of eating durian show that the way people eat durian depends on their social status. Though people differ on their styles of eating the fruit, they still feel the same enjoyment of eating durian. Whatever style a person uses he still experience the euphoric excitement of eating it.

Durian is not only known for its distinct taste but famous as well for the pungent and indescribable odor it emits. Durian is compared to have a smell like a 3 week old garbage or 3 week unwashed underarms. The fruit is also compared to have a smell like the civet, sewage, stale vomit, skunk spray or having to eat it would make your breath smell as if you’ve been French-kissing your dead grandmother. It was like an epitome of revenge. It may taste sweet but it stinks.

However, the one who should be blamed and responsible of this pungent and indescribable smells are the chemical compounds found in the fruit called Hydrogen sulfide. Once the chemical is exposed to the air, it creates an odor. These chemical elements can only be found in Durians. Because of this, the smell of Durian seemed to have a distinct smell among the other fruits.

The bible did not really say that the apple is the forbidden fruit, it might have been durian. One can feel the increase body heat as he consumes the durian fruit. It provides an erotic sensation that can be similar to the mood one can get while having sex. If only dogmatic teaching said that Adam and Eve ate durian, we might vividly picture out how passionate it is to commit a sin. Durian is like sex, it gives impulses to one’s body that can create a titillating response.

Opening the hard, thorny crust of durian is like letting a virgin lay down on bed to have sex. It takes time for a virgin to let him unite with her. A man needs to convince, persuade and lure her with all his charm, or he can be like Adam who waited for Eve to offer him the fruit. However, if Adam is too arduous, he can exert much of his vigor to force Eve to let him enter the gate of heaven. All sweat without pain invested by man is paid off as the woman unleashes her most precious treasure, together with her body, her mind, and her souls.

The person who opens the durian would sometimes be wounded by the spiky shell, but with sex, it is different. Adam needs to dig in to Eve’s flesh, he needs to dig deeper to feel her warmth. Eve, on the other hand, feels the pain. The thorns were like needles that intensely prick her soul. She screams out of pain and pleasure. Eve explicitly endow the taste of her flesh as Adam savors the bitter-sweet sensation that nothing else in the world can offer.


Durian is like sex, the greater the intensity, the more impossible it is to resist the pleasure of sucking the invigorating flesh that it procures. You learn to love the smell as you crave fro more. You can forget that your hand might be stinky after firmly grasping to reach the peak of satisfaction. The bitter-sweet taste is like venom that paralyzes your body and drives the heat to be in control. You would not care if your blood pleasure increases as long as you enjoy the moment. When flesh is devoured, the sucking is over. The ritual is done, but the sizzling sensation lingers within the feeling is like in cloud nine as the process is over. No doubt that eating durian and sex are both addictive.


A saying in Indonesia goes like this, jatuh sarung naik, meaning “the durian fall and the sarongs come up.” When a durian falls on the ground meaning it can be eaten, after consuming it, people feel that hot sensual sensation. In order to release it, they go inside the room, the sarong comes up, the legs are opened, lights are off, and the rest is private.

One sees it. It’s huge, it’s spiky and you know it hurts. Certainly, one would say no! it always has the same effect on most people on their first time. Everybody anticipates pain. In fact, you wouldn’t want to try it if not for the pressure of other people enjoying it already. A person needs persuasion or even force just to let him or her try it. However, once you’ve endured the pain, it will be easier the nest time. And you’ll enjoy the pleasure more and more each time you try it.

If many find pleasure in sucking it, why do other people despise it? Surely, it’s not about the taste, for the taste is sweet and luscious. But its smell makes you nostalgic of the experiences you went through before eating it. It may remind you of striking pain you felt the first time you opened it. Or it may be as simple as reminding you of the person you were with while taking the pleasure in the body bliss it brings.

Durian, with its erotic component can let one feel the euphoric without having his or her body heat up in contact with another. Letting one penetrate durian into one’s body and soul will let you grasp eternal satisfaction. The pain and pleasure it bestows could not be defined through its corporeal attributes. Its horrid smell and sturdy appearance may either be daunting or inviting, but one thing’s for sure, once you’ve tasted the ecstasy it induces, it’s hard to say no the next time. Undeniably, the lustful and luscious feel it leaves makes you an aficionado. If, you want to reach nirvana, you might just have to walk through hell.