Durian, a fruit unique to Southeast Asia, is known by many as "the king of fruits."
This past weekend I had my first run in with durian. To me, it smelled like rotten fish, and it looked like uncooked chicken. I did not have enough courage to try this fruit, despite the reminders that "you can't tell a book by it's cover," and much of my family who seemed to tolerate (and even enjoy) the so-called delicacy.
A friend, who is a native Malaysian, told me that durian is illegal in some areas of town due to its stench. I sought to learn more and found many articles like this: "Buses in Singapore have signs (right next to No Food, No Drink, No Loud Music) demanding No Durian. It's illegal to carry one into public buildings there too. But eating it can be as addictive as Cooper City's crack."
Despite the odor and interesting consistency, durian provides many health benefits. These include its high concentration of vitamins B, C, and E, and iron content, its ability to help lower cholesterol, and is even prescribed for fevers and jaundice. To learn more about durian, visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Health-Benefits-of-Durian.
After seeing the health benefits of durian, you might be asking yourself why I didn't try durian. Well take a look for yourself as the Bizzare Foods Challenge crew takes on Durian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VuXoX3Wt08.
Let me warn you, if you are going to test your taste buds with some durian, make sure your nostrils are ready! Happy eating!