IT annoys me that most of our own writers use the Western perception of "durian" in their description of this remarkable king of all Malaysian fruits.
Westerners tend to describe it as "a pungent fruit with a smell that is so malodorous and revulsive that most of the major hotel chains have banned it".
If we are going to sell it in the world market, we have to describe it as "a soft succulent fruit which is the most aromatic of all the fruits, with a delightful fragrance and a sublime taste".
It is also highly nutritious, rich in energy and has a high content of fibre, thiamin (Vitamin B1), pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid (B5), Vitamin C, as well as a balanced concentration of proteins, car-bohydrates and unsaturated fat.
It's not pungent but aromatic The durian should be described as a soft succulent fruit with a delightful fragrance and a sublime taste. |
In addition, it contains minerals like manganese, copper, iron and magnesium. It is also a very rich source of potassium which is an important electrolyte of cell and body fluids and helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
Also present are high levels of essential amino acids and tryptophan (also known as nature's sleeping pill) which metabolises into serotonin and melatonin in the body.
These neuro-chemicals have important functions like sleep induction and are used in the treatment of epilepsy.
Cholesterol is absent and sodium is present only in minute quantities.
It really is the king of all fruits!
Dr H.W. Hooi, Kuantan, Pahang NST Opinion Letters-to-the-Editor 10/02/2014