King and queen of fruits

Our hotel in Bangkok had a big sign announcing that it was forbidden to bring a durian fruit into the rooms. I completely understand why. A few years ago, Robert bought a durian in Calgary and brought it home. When he cut into it in the kitchen, the foul smell reached the second floor immediately and I thought we had a sewer backup. The stench was unbearable, and I still remember gagging. I could not bring myself to tasting it, even though Robert said that it had a good, sweet, custard-like texture. In Thailand, you can find durians everywhere, and I thought perhaps it was time for me to give it a try. Apparently, there are many different kinds of durian, and one should choose a less ripe fruit for a lesser odour. Yes, it was time to taste it. After all, it is known as a king of fruits. Some king: smelly and it gives you bloating and digestive issues. According to our guide, to combat those issues, one should buy mangosteen, known as the queen of fruits, and consume it right after durian.

At a market in Chiang Mai, we bought a durian, and tasting happened shortly after, outdoors. I was rewarded for not giving up on this fruit. The smell was minimal and the taste was sweet, delicate, and pudding-like. It should be noted that an hour later the smell intensified and quickly reminded me of the initial experience at home.

You may ask why it is the king of fruits. It is noted for its high nutritional content (apparently it is the most nutritious fruit in the world), as it provides carbohydrates, fiber, protein, vitamins C, B6, thiamine, riboflavin, potassium, magnesium, folate, copper, manganese, niacin, polyphenols and antioxidants. The queen, mangosteen, does not fall short; it is considered a superfood as it also contains a wide variety of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and is known for its anti-microbial and anti-malarial properties. But the queen is so much more delicious!