There is no other fruit as controversial as durian: some people praise it as smooth as milk fat, toothsome, mouth-watering, love it like life; some feel it stinks like cat shit, unpleasant to the nose, bypass – such extreme evaluation, let the durian more than a little mysterious color. Legend has it that in ancient times, a group of men and women sailed across the ocean to the South Seas, encountered wind and waves, only one pair of men and women drifted for a few days to reach a beautiful island; the residents of the island picked a fruit for them to eat, the two quickly recovered their strength, never wanting to go home, and here they married and had children. Later people named the fruit “durian”, which means “to linger”. Durian is a tropical deciduous tree of the family Papaveraceae, native to Southeast Asia, and is known far and wide as the “king of tropical fruits”. There is a folk saying in Malaysia: “Durian out, sarong off” – meaning that girls would rather take off their skirts and sell them than have a meal of durian, which shows the extent of their love for durian. Although some people cannot accept its unique smell, it is easy to get hooked once you try a few bites and get through the initial “adjustment period”. Durian is a highly nutritious tropical fruit with a high nutritional density and balance, as the pulp contains a lot of starch, sugar, fat, carbohydrates and protein, as well as vitamins B1, B2, C and other vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Ripe durian emits a sulfur-like odor, sweet and strangely smelly, which is a turn-off. However, according to modern scientific and nutritional research, durian has a high nutritional value and can be consumed regularly to strengthen the body, tonify the spleen, nourish the qi, strengthen the kidneys and warm the body. It is an ideal tonic for those with a cold constitution, and it has been a traditional folk remedy to make soup with the shells of durian and bones. Durian should not be picked, otherwise its ripening will be affected and the tree will be damaged. When ripe, the durian will fall late at night or early in the morning, so just pick it up. There are many varieties of durian, including golden pillow, gourd and kombucha. A good durian has a flesh that is neither too watery nor too dry and hard, but soft and moist with a slight bitter taste. The seeds of durian are rich in protein, and when fried or boiled and eaten in the shell, they taste similar to chestnuts and can increase stamina when eaten. Although durian is delicious, you should not eat too much of it at once, as it can easily lead to dryness in the body, and its rich nutrients can also cause “fire” due to incomplete absorption in the stomach and intestines. The best way to eliminate the heat is to drink some light salt water while eating durian or eat fruits with more water to balance it out, pears and watermelon are good choices. However, the best partner for durian is the mangosteen, known as the “queen of fruits”, which is the only one that can easily subdue the fire of the “king of fruits” and protect the body from damage. In addition, from the point of view of Chinese medicine, durian is hot and stagnant, so people with heat, sore throats and coughs, colds, tracheal allergies and diabetes are not suitable for eating durian, as this will worsen their condition and is not beneficial to their health. It is also not advisable to eat durian with wine, as this can lead to food compatibility and damage to the body. When buying durian, you should choose a fruit with a hilly shape, a complete and square fruit shape, a dark coffee-colored skin and a strong flavor, and if you feel something when you shake it, it is the best. Don’t think that the heavier the better, in fact, the lighter the durian, the smaller the nucleus, but don’t choose a durian that looks green. You should wrap the durian tightly in newspaper so that its thorns don’t stab children. Durian has a post-ripening effect and should be kept in a cool place. When the fruit is ripe, it will split open, at which point the flesh can be removed and placed in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator, where it will have the taste of ice cream when chilled. If the flesh becomes rancid, the durian has deteriorated and should not be consumed.