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Love-It-or-Hate-It · King of Fruits

Davao Durian

Davao Durian — street food from Davao, Philippines
Photo: MadayawDavao / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Davao Region grows the large majority of the Philippines' durian, and Davao City has used the fruit as its emblem — a giant durian sculpture stands outside the city's airport.

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 growers cultivate named varieties such as Puyat and Arancillo alongside imported Thai and Malaysian cultivars.
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Part of World of Street Food — 3443 dishes from 118 countries. Something wrong here? Tell us in the comments below. Photo credits.