Lampungnese Durian; A Great Taste

Indonesia is a tropical country where the tropical forest spreads throughout the country’s horizon. Because it is a tropical country, the variety of fruits becomes something common here. There are thousands or even millions of tropical fruits that you can find in Indonesia, from Sabang until Merauke. One of the most famous tropical fruits from Indonesia is durian. I am sure that some of you here are familiar with this fruit. Its unique smell and it’s great taste have made durian becomes one of the primadona fruits in Indonesia. I know that some of people do not like durian, but many of us like this fruit. Lampung as one of the provinces in Indonesia also has durian. It spreads throughout the regions, from South of Lampung to Pesisir Barat region. For me personally, every province or region which has durian fruit, has their own characteristics in the form of color, taste and texture of meat of their durian. 

I can barely say that Lampungnese durian is one of the best in Indonesia. I don’t utter this bombastic statement without a prove, people have admitted it. In my region, South of Lampung, the center of durian yards are around Bakau Heni to Katibung. During its period of cultivation, durian sellers sell their durians on the side of Trans Sumatra road. I can ensure to you that the taste won’t dissapoint you, because, usually, the Lampungnese durian sellers who sell it on side road take the durian from the farmers on the spot and it is original/natutal (I mean, it is not “carbided”). 

It is common thing to know that the only tasty durian is a durian which has fallen down to the soil naturally from its tree, and if you cultivate it forcely/directly from the trees before it is ripe, the taste won’t be as good as the natural one. Another thing that is good from the side road durian sellers is that you can bargain the price, it won’t be the same if you buy it from “medium” sellers who sell durian from their vehicle (such as L300 Colt cars). The side road durian sellers hang the durians on a small hut. You can test the durian for 2 until 3 pieces before you decide to buy. It’s a well-said statement if you mention this practice as a “local wisdom”. Well, me myself as the writer also has durian yard in South of Lampung. It was in 2004 my last time to “wait” durian directly at my yard. I spent 3 days with my father to wait durian fell, gathered them up and in the morning, we just waited the “resellers” who would buy our durian collections. Why should we wait our durian yard? Because if you didn’t do that, your durians would be stolen by others (which Lampungnese people called this ritual as “Ngerayau”).

So, come along to Lampung if you really want to taste Lampungnese durian. Usually durian season will start to hit the hill on November-March every year.