The smelliest fruit in the world is packed with taste and goodness!

Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore this smelliest fruit in the world, which even banned from public transport and hotels in some countries!

Now the durian season is here in Sri Lanka.

The fruit can grow up to 30cm long by 15cm wide, and has a hard, spiky green shell. Roadside stalls selling durian can be smelled almost before they can be seen.

Choose one that has a good colour and is not already splitting its shell. To open, cut the shell from top to bottom with a large knife or cleaver and then prise the two halves apart with your hands.

Then you can gently remove the soft flesh inside the pods and enjoy the velvety, custard like textured fruit surrounding a large, inedible seed.

Short season

The durian season is short, and the fruit has a limited shelf life, thus making it a bit expensive. Mainly enjoyed raw, they can also be cooked, or made into sweets and desserts.

Durian is incredibly high in healthy nutrients and plant compounds that may offer benefits in reducing cancer risk, preventing heart disease.

Its low Glycemic Index (GI) means it may spike blood sugar levels less than other fruits. The rind contains antibacterial and anti-yeast properties which help fight infection.

But be careful—don’t drink alcohol when eating durian, because compounds in the fruit can prevent enzymes in your liver from breaking down alcohol. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations and possible death.

On a lighter note, it was reported that an overwhelming smell coming from a suspicious package at a Bavarian post office caused 12 workers to be treated for nausea, six of whom taken to hospital.

Fire fighters and police rushed to the scene fearing that a harmful substance was being released. The building was cleared of people before it was discovered that the parcel contained four durian fruits sent as a gift to a local man.