Sarawakian Local Delights : The Tutong Species

It has always been intriguing to try eating something that is extraordinary. This is a red fruit and in the past only known as Wild Durians.

But with more information and better cultural ties between the different races of Sarawak, people are beginning to understand more about local food and local fruits.

The fruits of Durio dulcis are astounding! Photo is from Sarikeians with thanks.

This fruit is available in Miri and my friend has a huge tree which is bearing fruit this year. One morning she collected 44 in all.

It was fun picking the fruit in her farm. In the future she should turn her farm into a day activity for children and adults.

From a distance this durian actually looks like a giant red rambutan.

The aroma of the seeds (the fleshy part is edible, while the seed is fairly big) when the fruit is opened up, is rather pungent. The flesh is yellow and very sticky.

It is called Rian Tutong and is native to Borneo. Hence our West Malaysian friends may not know about it.

According to Wikipedia, "the fruit is so rare and local that even most Borneans doubt its existence! Trees are found mostly growing in primary forests."

It has been rumoured that the seeds when cooked or roasted may be sexually rejuvenating!! So don't waste the seeds. So for that reasons perhaps next year, after readers have read this article, the prices of this durian will go up...Any price can be paid for aphrodisiacs!!

By the way it is difficult to grow this species of durians outside Borneo for some strange reasons.