Durian fruit is banned on public transportation in Singapore.
Most fruits tend to have sweet smells that delight our olfactory systems and make our mouths water. One, however, has a reputation for being so noxious that many people can’t make it past the rind to its sweet center — or even stand to be in the same room with it. The durian fruit, sometimes called the “king of fruit” in Southeast Asia (where it’s native), is so unpleasantly fragrant that it is banned from public transportation in Singapore. The spiky fruit is also often prohibited in hotels and outdoor public spaces in the region.
Describing the odor associated with durians is no easy feat. Some chefs and adventurous eaters have likened it to rotten eggs, pungent cheese, or sweaty gym socks, though lovers of the fruit say the smell is worth enduring for its creamy flesh, which tastes of caramel and almonds.
Yet that unpleasant aroma can be so overwhelming it causes confusion and complaints. On at least two occasions in Australia, the fruit’s lingering scent was powerful enough to be mistaken for a natural gas leak. In 2018, passengers on an Indonesian flight refused to board a plane loaded with more than 2 tons of durian in the cargo hold because of the intense smell. Scientists believe durian fruit’s nauseating aroma comes from a higher-than-usual number of genes for volatile sulfur compounds, which become “turbocharged” as the fruit ripens. However, the scent has a beneficial purpose for the plants themselves: It’s likely durian fruit trees evolved to use the sour stench as a way to attract animals that dine on the fruit and spread the seeds throughout wild areas.
It’s a popular fun fact that tomatoes are botanically fruits, but in the U.S. they’ve been considered vegetables — legally — since the late 19th century. The Tariff Act of 1883 required produce importers to pay taxes on foreign-grown produce shipped into the country, specifically vegetables (fruits were exempt). Importers — such as New York’s Nix family — believed they could evade the 10% tax by dealing in tomatoes, since the vine-growing crop is a fruit. A fight with the New York Port Authority led the Nixes to argue their point in court, and after six years, the case made its way to the Supreme Court. Despite the Nixes’ argument being biologically correct, the Port Authority won the case on two points: Tomatoes are related to several nightshade vegetables such as potatoes and peppers, and unlike other fruits are typically served with dinner instead of dessert. Ultimately, the ruling closed the tomato tax controversy for good.
