Eating a Durian & Experiencing a Corpse Flower in Bloom (aka, the smelly things!)
Eating a Durian
Completed January 28, 2022
After a race in Gainesville, Tom and I stopped by Chun Ching Market. As we browsed the aisles for fun snacks and food, I spied a durian in the freezer and knew it had to come home with me.
First off, this thing was SHARP. I expected it to be more like jackfruit, but it is more like an oval of mean thorns. It was tough to cut into as it was still partially frozen because I didn’t let it thaw long enough (durian is shipped frozen from Thailand sine it is only viable for a couple days after ripening).
Some people say the smell is like dirty socks, sewage, and rotten onions. I don’t think it was too bad at all, just strong. I like the creamy custard texture of it and added it to the smoothie. I had several people try it and it had mixed reviews. One coworker said it tasted like French onion soup.
I won’t buy one again because of the cost and difficulty opening it, but if it is offered to me I definitely won’t say no!
Experience a Corpse Flower in Bloom
Completed April 25, 2022
This was a super special one on the list that I did NOT expect to happen this quick. For anyone that doesn’t know, the Corpse Flower is native to Sumatra and is considered endangered They only bloom every few years (few bloom every 2-3 years, some bloom every 5-10 years). One of the interesting things about it is the distinctive odor – it smells like all sorts of awfulness to attract flesh flies and carrion beetles.
In order to experience this, I set up a google alert for Corpse Flower when I first started working through my list and waited for one to be easily traveled to or to be nearby. The timing had to be just right. I saw one blooming in Oklahoma, Michigan, and California. None were at a time I could go there or the flights were stupid insane (I was not about to buy a $600 plane ticket to Oklahoma to spend 10 minutes with a plant, list be damned). I knew there was one at Rollins College in Winter Park, an hour and a half from home, and that it had bloomed several years ago. I missed it then because it was in the middle of the week and I vowed that if it opened again, I’d be there.
I saw the news first thing in the morning that it was opening, but I was at work. Luckily, I had a few tree companies coming to look at a tree in the yard I wanted removed, so I’d already requested the afternoon off. I left voicemails and sent a text that I couldn’t be there for the tree estimates, but if they could look at it still and email me the quotes it would be appreciated. Two agreed and I took off for Winter Park.
This one opened up in the morning and was set to close by midnight. Once people got out of work there would be lines to see it, so the opportunity to go in the afternoon before then was absolutely perfect. When I walked in there were only a few people milling around, so I spent some time there looking at it and the other one they had in another greenhouse room that would be opening at some point the next day).
Again, the Corpse Flower is known to be smelly, but I don’t think it smelled as bad as days old roadkill, which I come across while running at least once a week. It was gorgeous though! Even more beautiful and miraculous than a picture can capture!
