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The king of tropical fruits is back
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: None
Date: 2001-03-04
 
Once you've tasted it, you can never stop. That's how most Orientals and durian connoisseurs describe the exotic taste of the ''king of tropical fruits.''

While others shudder at the sight and smell of durian, durian enthusiasts will assert that the fruit tastes like heaven. Sans the smell, durian will not taste as good as it is.



Morever, its nutritional contents are quite high that one can consider it as a complete meal.



Lucy Consunji-Reyes of SunGee Corp. which offers durian and other tropical fruits, says that she eats durian for breakfast, lunch or dinner.



One hundred grams of durian fruit contains 230 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 44 grams of carbohydrates, and zero cholesterol. The fruit is 26 percent sugar, 3 percent protein, 6 percent vitamins and 4 percent calcium.



Due to its high calorie content, the fruit is believed to have aphrodisiac qualities.



Determining if the fruit is ripe is easy for those who know durian. But for first timers Lucy shares the following tips.



“First you must feel the spines if they are flexible. The aroma must be present, and you must easily break its peduncle (tangkay),” she says.



Upon seeing the fruit, with its hard shell and spiky spines, one may think that it is hard to open. But Lucy says that it is easy.



“First, check if the fruit is ripe. Next, open it from the opposite side of the stem, using a small knife. Don’t wait for it to crack. Instead, make an incision and open it with your bare hands,” she states.



The fruit is grown wildly in the Southeast Asian region, mostly in Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.



Durian is abundant in the months of July, August and September.



This time, SunGee promises durian whole year round as it offers a wide variety of durian products like ice cream, ice drop, frozen durian, among others.



You can put it almost anywhere. Spread it on bibingka or puto bumbong or make durian hopia, durian cake, durian shake out of it.



But most durian lovers would say that the fruit is best eaten raw, with your bare hands.



What’s more, SunGee has a wide range of Thailand durian varieties, from the regular Chanee to the premium varieties like Arancillo, Monthong, Kolb (the pumpkin-shaped durian) and the Karnyao.



Durian Park is at 124 Domestic Airport Road, Pasay City.



SunGee fruit stalls are at Alabang-Zapote Road, Festival Mall, 2281 Pasong Tamo, Ext., Makati City and Farmers Market.



 

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