Durian, Durio zibethinus, is the spiky Southeast Asian fruit with a smell strong enough to be banned on public transport in Singapore and a creamy, custard-like flesh that its fans call the king of fruits. It is now sold in Indian cities, and a few trees grow in Kerala and the Nilgiri foothills.
- Botanical name
- Durio zibethinus L.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Tamil
- Durian
- Hindi
- Durian
- Parts used
- Ripe aril
- Habit
- Spiny Malvaceae fruit; jack is Artocarpus
- Last updated
- 2026-10-25
How to recognise Durian
The fruit is large, up to the size of a football, covered in hard, sharp, pyramidal spines. It splits along five seams.
Inside are segments of pale yellow, soft, custard-like flesh (the aril) around large seeds.
The smell is powerful and complex: sulphurous, oniony and sweet at once. Opinions on it divide sharply.
Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus, is larger and has blunt, knobbly bumps rather than sharp spines. Its flesh is in many small bulbs.
Traditional use of Durian
Southeast Asian food
Durian is eaten fresh, and made into sweets, ice creams, cakes and fermented paste across Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
Southeast Asian food practice
Modern notes on Durian
The smell comes from sulphur compounds and esters, which chemists have catalogued in detail.
A traditional warning against eating durian with alcohol has some support: a laboratory study found its sulphur compounds slow an enzyme involved in breaking down alcohol.
Durian safety
Eat it as food. Avoid combining large amounts with alcohol. People on potassium-restricted diets should note that it is rich in potassium.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra and grown in orchards throughout Southeast Asia.
In the wild its flowers open at night and are pollinated mainly by fruit bats, which matters for orchard yields.
Related plants
Also in Malvaceae
Questions about Durian
Is Durian jackfruit?
No. Jackfruit is Artocarpus heterophyllus, a different family.
Does Durian grow in India?
A few trees grow in Kerala and the Nilgiri foothills; most durian in India is imported.
Why is Durian banned on trains?
Its smell lingers strongly.
How do you know a durian is ripe?
It smells strongly and the seams begin to crack. In Southeast Asia the best fruit is often eaten the day it falls.
Sources
- Durio zibethinus L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q1135236 (Durio zibethinus)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.