Popular durian delicacies

Durians - the spiky green fruit you either love or hate

You can smell it from a hundred meters away. Pungent, fragrant, aromatic... the strong smell tingles one’s olfactory senses numb.

Love it or hate it, the durian is relatively easy to distinguish from other fruits. It is a spiky green fruit, well-known as the King of Fruits in Southeast Asia.

Native to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei the durian fruit is also grown in Thailand and the Philippines. Its flesh comes in a variety of milky white, yellow, red and orange colors.

Although fans of the durian fruit are many, there are also those who may not like eating durian fresh. For those not so adventurous enthusiasts and would still like to taste a little bit of durian, here are some popular durian delicacies to try.

(These durian delicacies can be found in several Southeast Asian countries and may have different names).

Durian dodol

Dodol is a popular delicacy made of coconut milk, glutinous rice flour and palm sugar. Durian is added to the dodol for its unique flavour, producing a toffee and sweet like treat. Its mild durian taste, is mixed with the sweet dodol and made in bite sized pieces. It is easy to bring with you when having a craving for durian.

Durian Cendol

Cendol, a sweet dessert treat in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam is popular among locals and tourists alike.

Essentially a dish made of coconut milk, rice flour jelly noodles (green colored), shaved ice, palm sugar, red beans, cream corn and durian completes the dessert. Best eaten on a hot day, it is cooling as well as refreshing.

Durian cheesecake

Who can possibly resist, frozen cream cheese mixed with creamy durian? Sweet, rich and full of flavor, durian cheesecakes are usually seasonal.

Cake shops offer their own versions of durian cheesecake with a mixture of fresh cream, creamy butter with durian puree.

Durian cheesecake. Pix credit rosewong.

Durian crepe

Eating crepes with durian? Sounds heavenly and tastes amazing! Thin slices of crepe, filled with fresh cream and durian melts in the mouth. Perfect treat for an afternoon tea, eating with durian fanatics alike.

Durian ice cream

For the sweet tooth, nothing beats eating ice cream. Why not try durian flavoured ice cream? With a mild taste of durian, yet sweet and fragrant; eating durian ice cream is for the whole family.

On your next travel trip to Southeast Asia during the durian season, make sure to try these popular durian delicacies. Happy tasting!

Durian is a seasonal fruit