Sunday, April 08, 2007

Stinky Fruit & the Elderly

I'm worried about how Helmut might take this news. Durian and Phronesisaical go way back.
Nevertheless, a Thai government scientist, who after three decades of research is one of the world’s leading durian experts, now says he has managed to excise its stink.

Working at an orchard here, near the Cambodian border, the scientist, Songpol Somsri, crossed more than 90 varieties of durian, many found only in the wild, and came up with a fruit that he says smells as mild as a banana. He named it Chantaburi No. 1, after his home province and the location of the research center.

It will please Thai consumers, he says, and might help broaden the acceptability of the durian, unlocking the door to new American and European customers who, like an increasing number of Thais, are likely to reject a fruit that reeks like last season’s unwashed gym socks.

“Most Thais don’t like too strong a smell, except some old people,” Dr. Songpol said.

5 comments:

helmut said...

This is like the jalapeno developed at Texas A&M without the heat. It's like a day without wine being like a lifetime without laughter. It's like a fish out of water. It's like a monkey without a saucy cap. It's like....

Anonymous said...

Two of the women of WhirledView found some non-smelly durian in an Albuquerque grocery store. We found it remarkable, but didn't buy any.

CKR

Mark Gisleson said...

Durian that doesn't smell is probably too green to eat.

SteveG said...

My wife ate durian regularly when we were trying to have our kids, I would say that in certain more or less romantic times that include frequent close contact, less pungent durian could be a good thing...

MT said...

The Cambodian border--that squares with the sensor readings. You can't strike out a smell that devastating right under the nose of international community and expect it to go unnoticed.