Globalization happened, I know this. Fruits have been crossing borders and jumping hemispheres for hundreds of years. I don’t give a second thought to the orange trees blossoming all over California or the plums and cherries that dot my hometown. Yet somehow I was still surprised to actually find durian growing in Puerto Rico, so close to home.
In my imagination, durian will always be a powerfully odoriferous spike ball
plummeting through the jungle canopy into the waiting maws of tigers,
elephants, and tattooed tribal people. Even though I’ve eaten far more durian in cities than under trees (and in upstate New York, for Pete’s sake) it’s always retained a sort of primal, mystical Asianness. Like the Buddha and snake temples and foggy, humid mountains.
Puerto Rico has it’s own mystique. It is, after all, a mountainous island jungle. But the very best durians are created by a somewhat mysterious combination of factors: soil type, nutrients, elevation, heat, wind, rain, dryness. I felt confident that durian could grow in Puerto Rico, but would it taste like the real deal?
And did that mean that instead of making the 13 hour sojourn to Southeast Asia, American durian fanatics could just hop down to P.R. for their fix? That would be nice.
Elaine says
I am Puerto Rican and I have never seen or heard of this fruit. Read your article but you never mentioned the name it is called in the island. Is it durian? Could be from the family of guanábanas and anones but these two smell wonderful. Thank you
Lindsay Admin says
it’s just called “Durian,” I don’t think there is a different local name for it. It’s not the same as soursop 🙂
Raymond says
Im from Malaysia where can i lease lands in PR to plant Musang King
Lindsay says
I really don’t know, but maybe someone will see this comment and reply
jack says
do you have specific location of this amazing durian farm?
[email protected] says
Unfortunately this farm was heavily damaged by the last hurricane and no longer can supply durian
Mindy says
Can we visit any farm to buy durian ?
[email protected] says
Hi Mindy, it’s not the right time of year to buy durian! Try in July or August
Corrine says
Where in Puerto Rico is durian? Near San Juan?
[email protected] says
No, mostly on the Western side.
Eugene Figueroa says
How long before the tree bears fruit plz
[email protected] says
Hi Eugene, a durian tree typically takes about five years to produce fruit if from a graft, if from seed it takes more like 10 years.
fruitarianvagabond says
thanks for pioneering the durian discovering in PR Lin…i think your friend will also be planting many more trees each year because its so easy to do and the demand will keep up for sure….yum.