Durian is easily the most divisive fruit; people either love it or hate. I’m firmly in the latter category, with visits to supermarkets in Hong Kong as a child closely associated with the smell of raw sewerage permeating the entire fresh produce section where the durian was available for purchase. Time and again, I’ve been told assured that durian tastes nothing like how it smells, that the fruit is fragrant and creamy once I get past the smell. I’ve had my doubts but never voluntarily placed such a foul-smelling food in my mouth until this Minco Durian Toffee.

Each piece is about 2.5 x 2 x 0.5 cm in size and an opaque pale yellow colour. It’s made from durian pulp, buttermilk, glucose and sugar.

The toffee smells just like fresh durian — that is, like raw sewerage. Fighting past this repulsion for the sake of trying a gift, I succeeded so far as putting in my mouth for a second before it engaged my gag reflex. The truth is durian tastes exactly like how it smells, that is, like standing downwind of a garbage truck on a hot day. D has a stronger stomach than me, and after assurances that the flavour mellowed to a level more manageable after a while on the palate, I lasted about two seconds before I gave up entirely. The dairy notes from the buttermilk do not help with the flavour, but D tells me that flavour aside, the candy itself does melt to a smooth creaminess without sticking between one’s teeth.

This Minco Durian Toffee contained 82 g or 25 x 3.25 g pieces. It was produced in The Philippines and received as a gift from an acquaintance visiting The Philippines in 2019.