Stop and smell the roses? Sure! Or, if you prefer a more immersive experience with a side of nausea, line up for the corpse flower at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This beauty, known for its delightful aroma of decay, is the thrill ride of the botanical world.
These plants make cameo appearances only once every few years but, luckily, the San Marino, California garden boasts a stash of over 40 corpse flowers. That means there’s a guaranteed bloom each year, and fans have turned tracking these monstrous blooms into a social media spectacle. Forget Netflix; watch nature at its rankest!
Meet the Smelly Superstar: The Durian
Over in Asia, the durian fruit is stealing the show (and quite possibly some olfactory senses). Encased in spikes reminiscent of a hedgehog’s bad hair day, the durian has a reputation as a culinary Pariah. Its scent? A delightful bouquet that some have likened to gym socks or, for the more adventurous, freshly vomited taco. Yet, don’t let that initial impression fool you; its flavor is a glorious blend of caramel and cheesecake, making it a controversial delicacy in desserts.
The “Disneyland of Durian” Experience
Welcome to DurianBB, a farm in Kuala Lumpur that’s deemed the Disneyland for those who prefer their trips with a side of stench. Here, visitors can explore various durian offerings, learn how to cook with the fruit, and enjoy games — who knew that wrestling with a durian-infused soccer ball could be so exhilarating? According to reports, DurianBB is expected to rake in $10 million in 2024, thanks to its impressive souvenir strategy. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a plush, smelly durian!
Adrian Choy, the “Chief Dreamer” (every whimsical story needs a whimsical title!), has made it his mission to transform the delicate art of fruit-exporting into a diverse entertainment empire. Sounds like the American Dream, just with more spikes and fewer apple pies.
Going Beyond the Usual
Durian enthusiasts can find plenty of experiential options. From an omakase restaurant in Bangkok where the main course may come with a hint of dread to high tea in Hong Kong where the scones are fundamentally confused about their existence, there’s something for everyone. Even major chains like Pizza Hut and Ikea in Hong Kong have decided to venture into the durian realm, proving that food options just can’t be “too weird.”
And let’s not forget the adventurous tourists! Tourism Malaysia has jumped on the durian bandwagon, offering a 2024/2025 guide brimming with 62 durian tourism packages. That’s right; you too can embark on a journey that might leave your breath athletically offensive for days, all while supporting local economies to the tune of $420,000. Now that’s what I call a fruitful endeavor!
In the wise words of cooking extraordinaire Anthony Bourdain, enjoying durian might leave you feeling like you’ve “French-kissed your dead grandmother.” It’s a love affair of unconventional proportions, but isn’t that just the spice of life? With all these whimsical attractions centered around such peculiar produce, perhaps the real question isn’t why people flock to these fragrant fiends, but when can we get a ticket to the next big smelly event?
