I'll never forget the first time I ate a "durian."  This heavenly Southeast Asian fruit has a creamy custard texture and tastes like a combination of vanilla, hazelnut, banana and a tinge of garlic.  It was the most delicious thing I'd ever had in my life.  In Thailand, the durian is known as "King of All Fruit."

When I first fell in love with the odd spiky fruit, I made a weekly pilgrimage to New York's Chinatown, where durians can be purchased fresh or frozen.   I returned to New Jersey carrying as many durians as I could on the bus.  My durian addiction amounted to eating three or four per week.  A friend commented, "You are like a crackhead with those durians!"

I guess there are worse addictions to have.  Durians are loaded with vitamins B, C and E and high in iron content. When I eat durian, I have to eat it early in the day because I swear it makes me too hyper if I eat it in the evening. Perhaps the high level of vitamin B is the culprit for that.  Durian is also a strong blood cleanser. It helps lower cholesterol, too.

Durian contains high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid that is known to alleviate anxiety and depression. That makes sense because I certainly feel euphoric when I eat durian.  Perhaps a similar high to what some claim chocolate does for them.

I once dedicated an entire day to my beloved durians and ate three throughout the day – and nothing else. The fruit is a recommended source of raw fats and contains a high level of soft protein (making it a good muscle builder) so it made perfect sense that I was able to function optimally on durian alone.

I love durians so much I had a picture of one tattooed on my inner calf. So now when I go to an Asian market to get my fix, if my American accent isn't understood, I just show my tattoo and I'm sent in the right direction.

There is a downside to this amazing fruit though. Most people think it smells. Durians are banned at hotels in Singapore and many overseas airports because of the smell, which has been likened to "garbage" or "rotten eggs." My fiancé and other friends have compared the smell to that of a gas leak or turpentine.

To me and other durian lovers (whom I've only met online – I've yet to meet a durian connoisseur in person) it smells like a lovely fragrant flower. Perhaps I'm in durian denial, but what a great place to be!

For more information, contact Mary Anne Christiano at: MaryAnneChristiano@Gmail.com

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