Durians

Durians

Durians are surrounded by fantastical lore. Durians never fall on people’s heads because they have EYES. You must not eat durians and drink alcohol because you’ll DIE. Drinking salt water using the durian’s shell as a cup is how you prevent smelly burps.

There are two durian seasons in Malaysia, June and December, and when the fruit’s in season, Chan Eng Kean, 54, sells local specimens from Penang Hill, in Balik Pulau. He goes to his distributor in the morning; when he gets back to Jalan Pantai Jerjak, he sells durian from eleven a.m. to five p.m. He’s been selling fruit all his life, but only selling durian for three years on this street. It’s popular, but he told me that he doesn’t particularly like eating it.