Durian

Durian is a nutritious Malaysian fruit that’s big and spiky on the outside like forbidding foliage on a Star Wars planet. Inside is white and yolky, with yellow embryos of fruit lodged in the pulp. It smells pungent, has the texture of thick custard, and is described as eating caramel, cheese, and garlic together. From that description, you might be enticed or repulsed by the idea of a cannabis strain named for the off-putting but nutritious fruit. A unique flavor profile and interesting foliage draw people in while the incredibly pungent smell wards off everyone in the vicinity, save only those most inclined to love this stinky fruit bomb.

Not a lot is known about the Durian plant, but sources seem to agree that Alpine Seeds, the breeder from Switzerland, was the first to get it growing. Durian looks like hardly any other cannabis we’ve ever seen. While it has a nice growing structure with a medium-high stack of slender, serrated leaves and a prominent central cola, it’s the color that drives the plant to greatness.

In normal conditions, Durian grows bright green with orange pistils. But when it gets a little cold, the plant goes purple, almost chocolaty brown all over. Even the leaves are a mellow bronzy plum color that is as pleasing to look at as it is to pick. So long as you keep the temperature at around 72-76 during the day and around 70-72 at night, Durian plants shouldn’t put up a fuss. They’ll stay squat and happy. But they may transform from fluffy green to a unique and mellow purple if you let them get chilly.

The terpenes in this strain favor sweet citrus flavors and hints of the outdoors, like lemon pine. But they also earn their namesake with a whiff of funk that makes Durian almost unbearable for some users. This strain’s aroma just keeps getting stronger and stronger, filling whatever room it’s in. As a genetic combination of GMO and Forbidden Fruit, this may not surprise you. Durian can’t be recommended for modest or hidden smoking. Only dip into it if you’re ready to fill the house with funky cheese and fruit smells.

The strain sits at around 18% THC on average, which is both welcoming to newcomers without being too boring for experienced users. If you’ve ever had Forbidden Fruit or GMO, you should know kind of what to expect with Durian. Just remember that the plant lets out quite a stench! Like it’s namesake, it tends to be somewhere between fruit, cream, and outrageous cheesy funk.