What Durian Tastes Like to Me: From Stew to Custard 😳

I developed a love for durian, although it didn’t happen immediately. Several years ago, I tried durian in Thailand. The experience was awful — the taste was repulsive, as if I were eating something rotten. I suspect the problem was that the durian had been opened in advance and had been sitting in the sun for several hours.

In Singapore, I decided to give this exotic fruit another chance. This time, I was served a durian that had just been opened. The experience was completely different — I liked it! Now, when I pass by fruit stalls, I am always enticed by the aroma of durian.

However, my experience with this fruit remains unusual. The thing is, when I eat durian, for the first few seconds it feels like I’m eating beef goulash 🥩 or some stewed meat 🍖 with a lot of onions 🧅. Then, gradually, the taste becomes more fruity, even reminiscent of a pastry with custard cream 🍰. This happens every time I eat durian. I do not know why those flavours arrive in that order for me. My first bite still starts somewhere near the stew pot and ends at the pastry counter.