Having spent several months in
the south east asian region, I’ve come across some interesting fruits which
were earlier unknown to me. In this post I’m sharing the ones I ventured to try
out:
Durian – regarded as the king
of fruits by many, this one is the most popular in this region. The porcupine
husk and overpowering smell are its most distinctive features. Some say the
smell is pleasant while it’s disgusting according to others. To me, the smell
lies somewhere in between. I’ve tried it once and surprisingly Durian tastes
like a dessert rather than a fruit to me. Its yellow, sweet and creamy inside.
Some say it’s an acquired taste but in my first sampling of this fruit, I hated
it!
Dragon Fruit – I first got to
try on a flight to Thailand. The fruit was served with the in-flight meal and
was neatly cut and wrapped. I didn’t know it then that this was dragon fruit as
its interior is so different from its vibrant exterior. Only later when I
bought it from the market, peeled and cut it at home did I realize that I had
already had it on that flight. I quite like this one. Tastes very similar to
kiwi.
Mangosteen – now these look
ugly on the outside and for a long time I shied away from trying it especially
after my encounter with Durians. Then one day strolling by a fruit vendor, I
requested if I could have just one to sample. The vendor obliged, picked one, peeled
it and handed it to me smiling away. I picked one of the whitish bulbs and
popped it into my mouth. To my surprise, the taste was quite nice, very similar
to Lychee. Rightly, Mangosteen is regarded as the queen of fruits in this
region.
Rambutan – this one is scary
looking and I’m yet to try it out. Although, I’ve heard it’s a good tasting
fruit.
Anyone aware of any other
local fruits? How was your experience with some of the above? Do share!
