Confessions Of A Fruit Monster

[gregnfaye]

Really enjoyed and almost tasted your experience - some of the fruit names ar not familiar to us but we will look them up when in BKK

Fruits are a big reason I am addicted to Thailand. They abound there, they are delicious, and they are cheap.

I like to call myself a "fruitarian"--a sort of a counterpart of a vegetarian. But my friends junk that term and simply call me a "fruit monster". I do not mind. Maybe that's a more apt description of me.

When I am in Bangkok I often stay around Pratunam Market where you will stumble into fruit vendors in every other corner. Some are ambulant, some occupy stalls. The variety of fruits sold in this market fascinates me endlessly. You can find there rambutan, mangosteen, papaya, rose apple, pomelo, mango, longan, guava, watermelon, orange, longkong (I don't know the English name), sugar apple, tamarind, grapes, and a lot more. To my great delight, during my recent trip last May-June, 2006, my top favorites--sugar apple (noina), longkong, and pomelo--were in season. I arrived in my hotel early morning, and by noon time I was already haggling feverishly with fruit hawkers along a soi near Baiyoke 2 Hotel. A kilo of of longkong cost Bt 60, a kilo of noina Bt 50, a kilo of rambutan Bt 20, and a kilo of mangosteen Bt 25. I suspect I would have enjoyed a better deal had I left my non-Thai accent at the airport. As for the pomelo, it was sold in a styrofor covered with plastic, already peeled and cut up. A few strips cost me Bt 20. Watermelon, papaya, and pineapple were also sold already sliced. They were all priced at Bt 10 per piece.

Eating noina, my number one favorite, requires time and concentration. Or else you run the risk of swallowing the tiny, black, stony seeds which, my mother used to tell me in my childhood, could grow inside you, and their leaves and twigs would sprout out of your ears and nose. That image remained vivid in my mind up to my adulthood. I suppose it is not wise to eat noina when you are rushing to an appointment. In my case, I regard the exercise with the seriousness of a cardiologist performing an open heart surgery. If the fruit is not so big, you could halve it and then you scoop the meat with a spoon. But in the case of a large one, which I only find in Thailand, it is difficult to break it open without it getting all mangled up. In that case you should pinch away each bump to peel it off, and bite into the flesh. And when it comes to noina, the bigger they are, the more succulent they become. In any case, when eating noina, be prepared to lose your poise. No way you should hope to look gamorous.

However, Thai ripe mangoes are a diferent story. I find them too sweet for comfort. To me, they taste like unadulterated syrup. But these kinds go well with sticky rice, though. But when taken solo, ripe mangoes, I prefer, should be spiced up with some hint of sourness, though sweetness should still somewhat dominate the flavor. The Thai way of eating unripe, crispy mangoes dipped in "nam pla wan" is something that appeals to my tastebuds, too.

Lastly, let's talk about the the durian. Perhaps durian (or turian in Thai) deserves a superstar status, considering that it is the "King of Fruits" in Thailand. Interestingly, this fruit is extremely controversial, and depending where you are in the spectrum, you either love it or hate it. I did not have the pleasure of meeting this fruit till recently. Long time ago, I had read one writer pictured eating durian as " like eating vanilla custard in a latrine." Another one had described its odor as "pig-shit turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock." And who would not shy away from it then? Thus, when I was asked how I found the offensive odor of durian, I used to quip that I loved it very much--as long as it's other people sniffing its scent, not me.

I finally crossed paths with the durian a couple of years back. As a participant in a conference in Kuala Lumpur, I was invited to a post-lunch durian-eating party. Boy, I could not believe it: There was absolutely nothing served but durian. That was a moment of truth for me. What to do? To squiggle out seemed like a crime, considering that our hosts were too gracious and well-meaning. Pretend to eat, my survival instinct told me. But my curiousity reigned. I pinched a tiny portion and pushed it towards my mouth. I was waiting for the pig-shit turpentine tang to bite my tongue. There was none. I shove another piece into my palate, and another, and another. Still no latrine like-flavor. Soon I was depositing large amounts of flesh into my mouth and gulping it and happily realizing that I was in fact not only enjoying the taste but enjoying it immensely. Before the end of the party, I knew I had fallen in love with the durian.

What a turn-around! Since then I started to sing a different song about the durian. Unfortunately, it is not easy to find it where I live. Thus, it appears distinctly in my list of "Must Eat When in Thailand". Right in Pratunam Market (again), durian is sold already diced, if you do not care to get the whole fruit. I always take time to grab a portion, sit quietly in a dark corner with wanton abandon, and toss all my cares into the wind. I am eating durian--I am indulging in a unique, delightful, gastronomical adventure.

[peanutbutter]

Reading your post made me feel really crave for Thai fruites. Tropical fruits here are so expensive. Well so might as well just enjoy those cherry, apple, wild berry etc. But you know sometime I really miss those sweet pineapple and Durian. Anyway last week I made Sticky rice with Rambutan hee hee it supposed to be with Longan (Lam-Yai) But by terribly mistake I bought can rambutan instead of longan. (Of course there is a picture at the side of the can but somehow I was blind.) Turned out no too bad.

[dukkha]

Great post.

I can't wait. We shall be in Chiang Mai Sept. Hope the mangrosteen, durian, longan, noina is still availlable.

[Marie]

Hi, dukkha: Thanks for your kind comment. I think you can still find mangosteen, durian and noi-na when you get to Chiang Mai in September.

Peanutbutter: Yes, most varieties of pineapples in Thailand are supersweet. About sticky rice with rambutan, I am trying to imagine what that combination tastes like. Would you like to tell us about it?

Gregnfaye, Jaibaan: I encourage you to look these fruits up when you come to Thailand and sample as many as you wish. Be ready with your list! LOL

Rcalaimo: I only eat durian in a dark nook in Pratunam market. I do not risk doing that with noi-na. LOL

Speedo: I have tried your suggestion--mix ripe mangoes with plain yogurt. It was greaaaat!

Mel: For my next trip, I will try to expand my repertoire (of fruits) and where to source them. Thanks for your suggested sites.

Somsong: Hi, it's good to meet a fellow Fruit Monster! But what is a Fruit Bat? Would you like to tell us?

Newluxe, Stevenray: So you belong to the "I hate durian" side of the spectrum. LOL. Any chance of your migrating to the opposite end?

Pailin: I am happy to note that you also love noi-na, my top favorite. But how do you eat it?

I have discovered that there are several ways of eating this fruit. One friend
tells me that he knows of two styles taught to him by his Thai girlfriend: "outside-in" and "inside out". The first one is to peel off the darkened, leathery skin and eat the flesh underneath. This is quite messy, but fast.

The other way takes a little more time, but it is more neat. You pull the top middle of the fruit the way you would with a peeled orange. This creates a hole that leads straight to the center. Stick your finger into the hole and pull the fruit apart. It will then break into two, roughly equal half-spheres. Now that the inside of the fruit is exposed, just turn the half-sphere inside out. This way you can separate large chunks from the leathery outside skin (that now is on the inside) without much dripping.

I wonder how the others eat noi-na. Mind to share it?

[Pailin]

Pailin: I am happy to note that you also love noi-na, my top favorite. But how do you eat it?

I have discovered that there are several ways of eating this fruit. One friend
tells me that he knows of two styles taught to him by his Thai girlfriend: "outside-in" and "inside out". The first one is to peel off the darkened, leathery skin and eat the flesh underneath. This is quite messy, but fast.

The other way takes a little more time, but it is more neat. You pull the top middle of the fruit the way you would with a peeled orange. This creates a hole that leads straight to the center. Stick your finger into the hole and pull the fruit apart. It will then break into two, roughly equal half-spheres. Now that the inside of the fruit is exposed, just turn the half-sphere inside out. This way you can separate large chunks from the leathery outside skin (that now is on the inside) without much dripping.

I wonder how the others eat noi-na. Mind to share it?

Wow! I didn't even know there was a neat way to eat noi-na! I usually spread newspaper out in front of me and dig in...sucking on seeds and just putting both of my hands into the most delicious MESS I've ever eaten!

I'll definitely have to try the neater way!

[Peterg]

The fruit is easily pulled apart by hand and the flesh scooped out with a spoon. Sugar apple is eaten as a sweet dessert fruit or made into a fragrant ice cream served in Thai restaurants. The pounded leaves are said to help soothe bruises, while the fruit acts as a mild laxative. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus.

It looks like it is a good job the fruit is out of season by the time we get there in November

FYI: http://www.royalfloraexpo.com/Thai_F...its/noi-na.asp

[Pailin]

Peterg, while I don't doubt science...I do have to say I didn't suffer any of the effects of this mild laxative. It is just remarkably delicious...you're missing out!

[Peterg]

Peterg, while I don't doubt science...I do have to say I didn't suffer any of the effects of this mild laxative. It is just remarkably delicious...you're missing out!

I know but did get some nice Lychee at the market in Atlanta tuesday, and right now, there is an overabundance of peaches around here

[paul_au]

Nothing like a big fat juicy Mango.

[nam phyyng]

Yep, nothing beats a big fat juicy yellow mango. I had several on my last trip to LoS and they just blew my socks off. We can't grow them here in NZ - too cold. Wish we could. And mangosteens, and lamyai, and malagor and nooinaa, and the list just goes on and on..........

All we can grow here are kiwifruit, apples, oranges, apricots and grapes. Theyre pretty good too, but the LoS wins every time for variety and cool, exotic tastes that send a bolt of scintillating pleasure clean through the top of your skull (when theyre not blowing your socks off that is).