Fruits of Thailand

Today was a quiet day here; we went and wandered around several of Bangkok's malls.  Since we didn't do anything super exciting, I decided to show you some of the fruits we've been eating over here.  First, these aren't the fruits I was eating every day at home.  Much of what I ate back in the US - strawberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, pears - aren't available over here or, if they are available, are very expensive (I think I saw a pint or two of cherries today being sold for ~$20 US).  But there are plenty of native fruits to munch on.  Second, the flip side of the first point is also true.  Most of these fruits native to Thailand are not available in the US.  I think it is because they don't ship well...

Fruit boat at the water market - bananas, mangosteens and mangos.  

I'll start with something familiar - coconut.  These are hacked open for people to drink the coconut juice and scrap out the flesh with a spoon.  They are very refreshing on a hot day.

Another familiar fruit and my favorite - mangoes.  And these aren't like the mangoes we get at home; they are much sweeter and juicier.  I like them best with sticky rice and coconut milk.

This next one is called a mangosteen.  It is also called "the queen of fruits" in Thailand.  The outer coloring is like a plum, but the inside is creamy white and in sections like an orange.  

Unpeeled mangosteens in a pile and peeled mangosteens below (wrapped in plastic)

This one is a rambutan.  The long hairs on the outside are flexible, and you can peel off the outside husk with your fingernails.  The inside is the size of a small egg and firm but juicy.  And don't eat the pit in the middle.

Rambutans

This one is a lychee, probably my second favorite.  Lychee flavored ice cream, juice and cocktails are becoming popular in California, but it doesn't compare to eating the actual fruit.  The outer husk is peeled off with your fingers and the inside is the size of a globe grape.  

Bunch of lychee!

Lychee interior

Finally, the "king of fruits" in Thailand - the durian.  The fruit in its husk is the size of a basketball, and the husk is covered in spikes.  When you buy a durian in the market, the vendor will remove the pillows of fruit for you by hacking it open with a sharp knife.  Once opened, durians have an interesting smell to them.  Some people say it smells like rotting trash; I thought it smelled like the chewable amoxicillian antibiotics I had to take as a kid.  Because of the smell, durians aren't allowed on subways or in fancy hotels.  The texture and taste of the durian reminded me of vanilla pudding or custard, but, the riper the fruit, the mushier the texture.  I really enjoyed the durian, but, as I understand, most Westerners have to try durian a few times before they like it (if they like it at all).

Whole durian

Durian "pillows"