Unique Fruit Found in Borneo
Durian Kuning on sale at a local market
One of the many stand-out things we’ve discovered travelling around the region of Borneo are the local fruit. When you think of Southeast Asia and fruit, the first thing that come to mind for many is the “King of Fruit” - durian. Love it or hate it, durian is notable for its pungent odour and hard, spiky, outer shell. On the island of Borneo, durian varieties are abundant - branching out from the typical cream-colored flesh and sweet taste to vibrant orange and red hues that take on nutty, slightly fermented, alcoholic flavors. The locals call these variations Durian Kuning (orange) and Durian Sukang (Red) and when in season (June-August), are highly sought out by both locals and tourists. Some tourists have paid up to $70 USD for a kilo of these prized durians. These striking fruit are harvested in the wild and can only be found in the remote jungles of Sabah, Sarawak (East Malaysia) and Brunei. When Cam and I tried these out for the first time in Brunei, we were surprised at how different they tasted compared to your typical Thai or Malaysian durian. The flesh is less dense, less creamy, and had a flavour that was similar to fermented wine. Some locals are convinced you can get slightly drunk off of this fruit!
If durian is the King of Fruit, mangosteens are considered the Queen of Fruit. In Chinese traditional medicine, mangosteens are usually eaten or paired with durian. Why? Durian is considered ‘heaty’ whilst mangosteens are considered to have ‘cooling’ properties, making the pairing perfect. Mangosteens, with its white, sweet, and refreshing flesh, are among my favourite fruit and I always keep an eye out for them when I am in Southeast Asia.
Despite its name, mangosteens are not related to mangos!
Tarap, also native to Borneo (although also cultivated in the Philippines) is a fruit related to jackfruit, chempedak, and breadfruit. Taste-wise, the closest comparison I can make is something between the tartness of a sour-sop crossed with a sweet mangosteen. Outwardly, it looks like a durian but the shell, although spiky-looking, is actually quite soft and incredibly easy to peel open with your hands. Where it shares some similarity to a durian is in the strong smell. We tried tarap for the first time in Brunei and I have to say it is quite delicious and fun to eat.
Easily tearing open a tarap fruit
Jackfruit and breadfruit, although not unique to just Borneo, are also found in abundance in this region. Both are considered nutrient and protein-rich and have recently become trendy among vegetarians and vegans. Jackfruit is considered the biggest tree fruit in the world and can grow up to three feet in length and weigh in at close to 45kg! Researchers have recently turned their attention to jackfruit and breadfruit as both could alleviate and support increasing demands on world food supplies as population levels continue to rise. Jackfruit “pulled-pork” sandwiches, anyone?
