Love-It-or-Hate-It · King of Fruits
Davao Durian
Photo: MadayawDavao / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Davao Region grows roughly 60 to 80% of all the durian produced in the Philippines, making it the country's undisputed source for a fruit so pungent it's banned from hotels and public transport elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Spiky green durian husks are cracked open to reveal custardy, pale-yellow flesh with a smell strong enough to clear a room and a flavor fans compare to sweet, savory custard. Street vendors along Davao City's Magsaysay Park sell whole fruits and pre-packed portions, cracking them open on request.
Why it's made this way: The Davao Region's tropical climate and volcanic soil make it the Philippines' dominant durian-growing area, and local breeders have even developed Philippine-specific cultivars, including a rare thornless variety discovered decades ago in what is now Davao de Oro.
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