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Durian fruit nutrition facts

Delicious, soft, durian fruit is one of the popular tropical fruits known for its unique fragrance and tastes Durian is widely recognized as the "King of Fruits" in many Southeast Asian countries.

The durian tree is tropical in origin and belongs to the family of Malvaceae, in the genus: Durio, a large family of plant species that also include some of the interesting relatives such as okra, cocoa beans, hibiscus, and cotton.

Scientific name: Durio zibethinus.

durian durian fruits
Inside view of durian cut section. Golden-yellow flesh bulbs (Durio zibethinus) Durian fruits in the market. Note the dark green husk covered with sharp thorns.

Durian fruit is native to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysian rainforests. While there exist as many as thirty species of Durio, only nine of them have been identified for edible fruit production. Durian tree begins fruits four or five years after plantation. The tree can grow up to 50 meters in height, depending on the species.

Durian is a seasonal fruit, typically from June until August, which coincides with that of the other tropical fruits like mangosteen, jackfruit, and mango.

Durian fruit is distinct for its large size, unique odor, and formidable thorn-covered husk. It can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter and typically weighs one to four kilograms (two to seven lb). In shape, it varies from round to oblong. The color of its husk (rind) is green with brown, and its flesh features creamy-yellow to saffron color bulbs depending upon the species.

The flesh of durian can be consumed at various stages of ripeness and is used as a flavoring agent in a wide variety of culinary and sweet preparations in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Durian seeds are small, round to oval-shaped kernels and appear like that of jackfruit seeds. Although boiled seeds can be eaten safely, many discard them. The seeds feature a bland taste akin to jackfruit seeds.

Its edible flesh emits a distinctive odor, which can be described as robust and penetrating, appreciable from afar even while its husk is intact. This unusual stinky and intense odor of the durian fruit may have prompted many people to express diverse and peculiar opinions ranging from profound gratitude to disgusting!

8 Amazing Health Benefits of Durian Fruit

  1. Durian, like other tropical fruits such as Banana, avocado, and jackfruit, is high in energy, minerals, and vitamins. 100 g fresh fruit carries 147 calories.

  2. The fruit is made of soft, easily digestible flesh made of simple sugars like fructose and sucrose that when eaten replenishes energy and revitalizes the body instantly. Though it contains relatively higher amounts of fats among the fruits, it is free from saturated fats and cholesterol.

  3. Durian is rich in dietary fiber, which makes it a good bulk laxative. The fiber content helps protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxins. It also helps bind and eliminate cancer-causing chemicals from the gut.

  4. The durian fruit is a good source of antioxidant vitamin-C (about 33% of RDA). Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals.

  5. It is an excellent source of health-benefiting B-complex groups of vitamins; a rare feature for fruits, such as niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential for the body as it requires them from external sources to replenish.

  6. Further, it also contains a good amount of minerals like manganese, copper, iron, and magnesium. Manganese is utilized by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is essential for red blood cell (RBC) formation.

  7. Fresh durian fruit is a very rich source of potassium. Potassium is an essential electrolyte inside cells and body fluids that help control heart rate and blood pressure.

  8. Additionally, it also contains high levels of essential amino acid, tryptophan (also referred to as "nature's sleeping pill"). Tryptophan in humans metabolizes into serotonin and melatonin; the two neurochemicals that play a vital role in sleep initiation and soothe nervous irritability.


See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients: Durian fruit (Durio zibethinus), Nutrition value/100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Principle Nutrient Value Percent of RDA
Energy 147 Kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 27.09 g 21%
Protein 1.47 g 2.5%
Total Fat 5.33 g 20%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 3.8 g 10%
Vitamins
Folates 36 mcg 9%
Niacin 1.074 mg 7%
Pantothenic acid 0.230 mg 4.5%
Pyridoxine 0.316 mg 24%
Riboflavin 0.200 mg 15%
Thiamin 0.374 mg 31%
Vitamin A 44 IU 1.5
Vitamin C 19.7 mg 33%
Electrolytes
Sodium 2 mg 0%
Potassium 436 mg 9.5%
Minerals
Calcium 6 mg 0.6%
Copper 0.207 mg 23%
Iron 0.43 mg 5%
Magnesium 30 mg 7.5%
Manganese 0.325 mg 14%
Phosphorus 39 mg 6%
Zinc 0.28 mg 2.5%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-α 6 mcg --
Carotene-ß 23 mcg --
Lutein-zeaxanthin

Selection and storage

Durian fruit is native to Southeast Asia. It is sold in markets all over East-Asian countries and also imported into the United States and Europe. People have different preferences regarding when to eat, while some like slightly ripened, tart-flavored durians; others may prefer to cherish soft and over-ripened. Normally, mature fruits that fall off the tree are gathered and sold.

In the stores, choose durian fruit with a firm stalk. Outside its natural habitat, durian is one of the most expensive items. Some of its varieties, like D24 (Sultan), are in high demand and command a higher price. It can also be stored inside the refrigerator for a few days.


Preparation and serving methods

On its exterior, the durian fruit is fully covered with sharp spikes capable of inflicting cuts; therefore, one should be careful while handling it. Cut open the fruit longitudinally the same way you do in Jackfruits to expose underlying creamy yellow flesh (pulp). Slice the flesh to remove the seeds.


Here are some serving tips:

durian pastry
Durian fruit pastry.
Photo courtesy: VirtualErn
  • Durian fruit is used as a flavor base in a wide variety of sweet preparations such as traditional Malay candy, ice kachang, dodol, biscuits, etc.

  • It is also used in the preparation of ice cream, milkshakes, and cappuccino.

  • Durian (yellow and red-fleshed) is traditionally used to prepare a fermented paste condiment (tempoyak) in Malaysia and Indonesia. The fermented durian is also added to prepare fish tempoyak curry made of freshwater catfish and fermented durian paste (gulai tempoyak ikan patin).

  • Ikan brengkes, fish cooked in a durian-based sauce, is traditional in Sumatran islands in Indonesia.

  • Unripe durians may be cooked as a vegetable in a variety of dishes.

  • Durian seeds, which taste similar to jackfruit seeds or yam, can be eaten boiled or roasted.



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Further reading and Resources:

  1. USDA National Nutrient Database.

  2. Stanford School of Medicine Cancer information Page- Nutrition to Reduce Cancer Risk.

  3. www.hort.purdue.edu.




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