Page 199 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA
191
FRUITS
You can’t visit Malaysia
without trying the
renowned (or notorious)
durian. Known as the
‘king of fruits’, the durian
has become synonymous
with adventurous eating
in Southeast Asia, even
appearing as a challenge
on popular reality
programme Fear Factor.
With a thorny hide that
needs peeling open with a
cleaver, the durian contains starfruit, guava, papaya,
pineapple, mango, bananas, watermelon, honeydew and rock melon, pomelo, the hairy- skinned rambutan; ciku, duku and langsat, plus delicious lychee, longan, jackfruit and cempedak. Don’t forget to try the hundreds of unique local fruit species and varieties found only in Southeast Asia and widely available from farmer’s markets and roadside stalls.
flesh-covered seeds with
a taste that some have compared to custard, with a hint of almond. However, the overpowering smell
is legendary – with some considering it highly malodorous.
If durians aren’t to your taste, then not to worry – Malaysia has a wealth of popular tropical fruits for you to choose from, including mangosteen,
Just a small selection of the huge variety of fresh fruits available in Malaysia. Even the keenest gourmet with extensive local knowledge will need years to try them all.