Durian is an inimitable tropic fruit. It’s well liked in Asia and the Pacific islands and is also known as “king of fruits”. It has a pervasive odour. The fruit smell is so effective that it is banned in several airports and hotels across the globe.
People have either strong like or dislike for this fruit. Most of them like it for its delicious taste and many dislike it for its odour. Thailand alone grows over 300 varieties, but most expensive durians are grown in the Nonthaburi region called Nont durian. Amid Nont durians two varieties stand out: the overpriced Kan Yao Durian and reasonably priced Mon Thong Durian.
Just 2.5 kilogram durian from Nonthaburi costs around $380. In 2019, a Nonthaburi durian was sold for $48,000 in an auction. Now it binds us with a question: why is this fruit so expensive?
According to the farmers there, fruit needs high care and they deem that the river water vitiates overall quality of the fruit and therefore they prefer on paying to purchase firm water. The necessary time required for a durian tree to deliver a healthy fruit is almost six years or more. The labor chargers are exotic and all these together makes the fruit expensive.
And what drags people for this unpleasant jagged fruit despite the cost? Well! This fruit has vital health benefits. It is incredibly nutritious. Every single durian varies in taste. Durian lovers say it has a sweet, custardy taste with a creamy cheesecake texture. It is said that the older the tree, the tastier the fruit.
Durian pulp is an excellent source of various nutrients required in the human diet. It also contains a good amount of minerals such as potassium, iron, etc. It prevents cardiovascular diseases, regulates blood pressure and lower cancer risks etc.
The durian global market growth is expected to be around $8.58 billion by 2025.
