Most expensive fruit in the world: The repulsive allure of durian

It is considered the most expensive fruit in the world. In 2019, it was sold at an auction for around $47,000. But interestingly, even the wealthy can't enjoy its taste everywhere, and possessing it can even cause trouble. This is all due to the potent smell of this spiky fruit.

Can you guess what fruit it is? You need to spend a small fortune on a durian. The fruit is quite large, similar to a watermelon, and weighs between 4 to 9 pounds. It is trendy in Asia, where it grows on evergreen trees.

However, this fruit is probably more often associated with its smell than its high price. Its aroma is described as repulsive, even stinky. It is described as a mixture of the stench of rotten fish, a crowded street dirty with sewage, and a rotten egg. For this reason, durian is banned in many places, even in Asia, where it is considered a delicacy. Due to durian, you can get into trouble on airplanes, public transport, or hotels. Its smell is so strong that it can cause nausea.

Diverse sulfur compounds present in the flesh and released when the fruit's tissues are cut or mechanically damaged are behind it. About 40 sulfur compounds have been identified in durian, the most abundant being hydrogen sulfide. Because of this, the smell of durian is dominated by the aroma of rotten eggs. Notes of garlic, leeks, milk, and cheese are also detectable. Together, they create a rather unusual mix, especially for a fruit. Its smell can be detected from several hundred yards, so you can find signs banning its entry in Asian shopping malls and hotels.

Despite the smell, there are many willing to try it. In Thailand, at a market, the most expensive fruit in the world costs around 459 Thai Baht or about $1.65 per pound. Durian prices vary depending on the region. In some places where the fruit is more available, you can eat it for the equivalent of just a few dollars.

Among the dozens of durian species, only 11 are edible, and on the international market, you can find only one variety: Durio zibethinus. Interest in this fruit can reach absurd proportions. In 2019, such a fruit was sold for $47,000. The supposed reason for durian's uniqueness is that each one tastes different.

What does the smelly fruit taste like? First, you have to get to it. It's covered with a skin full of thick spikes. Once you cut it open, you reach the inside, which hides flesh with a texture resembling a banana or avocado. The taste is slightly tart but fruity. It combines the flavors of almonds, caramel, turpentine, and onions—together, they create a unique mixture. Who would want to try it?