It looks like jackfruit but it is more expensive than jackfruit. In fact, it is one of the most expensive fruits in the world. Not to forget, it is extremely smelly!
Known as the “King of Fruit”, durian is a fruit cultivated in several parts of the world. However, it holds a special place in Thailand because of its taste, which is never the same. To put it in layman terms, every durian has a taste of its own. However, there is a catch: the fruit is extremely smelly and therefore, it is not allowed in several airports and hotels around the world. Irrespective of the drawbacks, durian is an expensive fruit, and a durian weighing around three kilograms retails at around 400 dollars. Not to forget, in 2018, a Nonthaburi durian was sold at 48,000 dollars. Unbelievable, right?
As mentioned in the first paragraph, durian is cultivated in several parts of the world where tropical climate prevails. However, in the Nonthaburi Province of Thailand, the best durians are cultivated. Therefore, the Nonthaburi durians are called Nont Durians. So, what makes the fruit so expensive?
Through the Nonthaburi Province passes the Chao Praya River, which makes the soil fertile for the cultivation of the fruit. Not to forget, the durian fruit has been cultivated in the country for 300 years in a certain fashion and the ancient technique of cultivating the fruit has been passed on from one generation to another. In short, the ancient technique of creating the finest durians in the world is accessible only in Thailand.
Apart from the Chao Praya River fertilizing the soil, the farmers in the Nonthaburi Province grow Indian coral trees to nurture the soil. Even the soil used for the cultivation of durians is not any other ordinary soil but sedimentary soil. Another factor that makes the durian costly is the usage of freshwater which is purchased by the farmers. As per the farmers, the river water degrades the overall quality of the durian tree and therefore, the farmers pay a hefty amount to purchase freshwater.
Finally, the time required to nurture a durian tree is the most important factor. Durian differs from any other fruit in the world and, therefore, it takes around six years or even more to get a ripe durian from a durian tree. All these factors make durian an exotic fruit in the world.
