The Kadayawan celebration, which we just celebrated face-to-face for the first time in two years, would not be complete sans the existence of the ‘King of Fruits' in Southeast Asia, the Durian. This tropical fruit is among the symbols of Davao City.
The creamy and delicious flavor of Durian may not be enough to entice non-durian eaters, especially that it has a spiky hard outer shell that could actually cut skin if not handled carefully coupled with strong smell that some places forbid bringing it especially in public transportation.
But there are those people who, although can't take its odor, still want to have a taste of Durian. With the creativity and ingenuity of several Dabawenyo chefs and bakers, people who fall in the non-Durian eater category can now enjoy Durian without eating the fruit itself.
Vacuum Freeze-Dried Durian is sweet just like the fruit itself, the dried flesh texture is white or yellow but crunchy since it has gone into a process, so eating it is like eating chips on the go. But the product should be stored in a dry, cool place. Note that a 20-gram of vacuum freeze-dried Durian is not enough so better buy a bigger one if you want to be satisfied.
Durian Yema comes from the fact that it is created using egg yolks, milk, sugar, and occasionally fruits like Durian. Just like any other yema, it is intensely rich and has a texture comparable to French crème brûlée, but if you haven't tried it yet, it tastes the usual yema with a twist due to its durian flavor and smell.
What’s the good thing about Durian yema is that it is commonly available in sari-sari stores, roadside booths, street vendors outside of churches, and a few particular supermarkets and bakeries.
Durian polvoron consists of flour, sugar, and milk, and the Durian flavor scent is not overpowering. It is soft to eat, flavorful but not that sweet compared to the fresh Durian.
Durian pastel is tender buns filled with a mouth-watering Durian custard filling which is very sweet and creamy. Mostly this pastry can be bought in some bakeshops.
Durian paste is made of a Durian fruit that is overripe, so this one is very sweet considering that it is made with the fruit itself and sugar. Durian paste can be made at home or purchased in stores. It works well as a filling for mooncakes, buns, and other baked goods and durian-related products.
Durian ice cream is a delicious, sweet delicacy made of Durian flesh, whole milk and heavy cream, vanilla extract, egg yolks, and sugar.
Durian cheesecake, this delicious dessert has a custard-like appearance and resembles cheesecake more than custard. The crust balances the Durian filling's sweetness so it won't taste too sweet.