Durian

The Durian according to legend

In the early 15th Century, famed navigator Zheng He, of the Ming Dynasty, set out from China with a crew of sailors, on a mission to explore Southeast Asia. Homesick and restless, the sailors were an unmotivated group, and Zheng He was eagerly searching for some spark to keep the journey going.

One day, while exploring on land, Zheng He came upon a pile of spiky, egg-shaped fruit laying under several towering trees. The captain quickly ordered some of his crew to gather the fruits and sample them for edibility. After just one taste, the crew was hooked. The fruit was said to be indescribably delicious, and everyone on the boat indulged. The crew`s spirits were lifted and they began to forget about returning home altogether. Instead, they started talking about staying close to the trees bearing the tasty fruits.

Asked to name the new discovery, Zheng He gave it the title Durian. This word is pronounced “liu lian” in Mandarin  the exact sound as the Mandarin word meaning “desire to stay in a particular place” or “reluctance to leave.”

To this day, the Durian is widely admired for its heavenly flavor and its plethora of medicinal properties. In fact, in its native lands, the Durian is known as the reigning King of Fruits.

The benefits of Zheng He`s discovery have been observed over the last 600 years. Traditional Chinese medicine incorporates the eating of the Durian fruit to hasten a women`s recovery after pregnancy and to strengthen and improve the health of vital organs. The fruit is also said to replenish the vital breath  known as qi  and to improve the positive energy  yang  in one`s body. That yang is matched by none other than the reigning Queen of Fruits the Mangosteen  completing the legendary pairing.