Durian

Durian

　　　　A tropical deciduous tree of the Bombacaceae family, native to Southeast Asia. Its fruit is known as the "King of Fruits" and the "Queen of Fruits." The fruit has an exceptionally strong aroma—those who enjoy it find it increasingly fragrant and even addictive, while those who dislike it say it smells like rotten cat feces. Durians cannot be picked prematurely, as this halts their ripening process and can damage the tree. They must be left to ripen fully and fall naturally from the tree. In ancient times, a group of men and women crossed the sea to Nanyang (Southeast Asia), but encountered a storm that capsized their boat. Only one man and one woman managed to drift for days until they reached a beautiful island. The islanders offered them a certain fruit to eat, which quickly restored their strength. The couple then decided never to return home, settling on the island where they married and raised a family. Later, people named this fruit "durian," meaning "to linger and not want to leave" (Haikou).