This is because durian has an extremely peculiar, pungent odor that people have compared to Limburger cheese. Some people have even compared its odour to rotten onion, stale socks or raw sewage. For this reason, the fruit is banned from hotels, public transportation and flights in Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong!
Due to its overpowering smell, durian has been banned on many types of public transport across Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. In Singapore, the fruit is banned across all types of public transportation and even taxis have signs to let you know they refuse to carry passengers transporting the smelly fruit.
Here's everything you need to know about durian, the world's truly forbidden fruit. Durian, called the "king of fruits," is a tree fruit primarily found across large swaths of Asia.
The one and only Durian. Known as “The King of Fruits,” durians are as adored as they are despised. In many Southeast Asian countries, law prohibits durians on public transportation, and hotel employees vigilantly sniff out guests who sneak the fruit inside.
The smell of durians has been classified as a public nuisance by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and, as of today, passengers are no longer permitted to carry the pungent-smelling fruit on its buses.
Mango, the “King of Fruits,” is an economically important fruit in various parts of the world. In addition to its excellent tropical flavor, mangoes embody nutrition and make eating healthy and delightful sensory experience.
Ackee fruit
Left unchecked, hypoglycemia can lead to coma and even death. Thus, the importation of the raw fruit has been banned by the FDA since 1973.
Turns out, durian stinks because of it's genetics.
“The researchers think this boost in activity was linked with another gene they found called ACS, which regulates the production of ethylene, a plant hormone involved in ripening,” wrote the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Berries and apples
Generally, any fruit which does not have a protective barrier you have to peel off before eating it can contain bacteria from contaminated water and should be avoided.
Other top reasons are "It costs more than other food," "It's a nuisance to have to peel it before you can eat it," and "There are other foods to eat." "In Japan, fruit is treated more as a luxury than a meal item," says Hisashi Kawaguchi, an official at the Japan Fruit Association.
Aside from this luxury status, there are regulations on size, colour and taste set by JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperative), the national regulatory body, when buying produce from farmers for resale. The landmass of Japan is also almost 80 percent mountains, which doesn't leave a lot of room for fruit crops.
Some people have even compared its odour to rotten onion, stale socks or raw sewage. For this reason, the fruit is banned from hotels, public transportation and flights in Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong! Strangely, durian tastes like a custard was mixed with almonds!
The answer, apparently, lies in the different ways peoples' brains interpret olfactory sensors. Apparently, the complex components that make up durian's unique aroma are similar but not identical to noxious smells like sulfur and turpentine, so brains like mine lump durian into the do-not-eat category.
Checked Bags: Yes
Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags within the continental United States. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.
Foods you can't pack in your carry-on
Think: creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt.
Durian taste is subjective. It's been likened to rotten eggs due to its pungent smell. Yet others describe it as a strange combination of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, diced garlic, onions, cheese, and caramel all at once!
Fresh, ripe durians have an incredibly delicious and sweet flavor. It's often described as custardy, and its flavor is compared to caramel, vanilla, and even cheesecake. The texture is soft and somewhat pillowy.
7. “Vomit-flavored custard” The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei says diners have described durian's taste as comparable to “vomit-flavored custard.”
Pawpaws: America's Forgotten Fruit.
The forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden is often said to be an apple, but it might have been a fig or other fruit. Adam and Eve were said to cover themselves with fig leaves after eating the forbidden fruit. The prohibition on orlah-fruit (lit.
Ansault Pear
Ansault pears are extinct fruit because they weren't reliable growers. Trees were irregular and didn't always produce edible pears. When commercial farming industrialized, ansault pear trees just weren't reliable enough to bring farmers a steady income.