
Durian, a fruit native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo, is infamous for its pungent odor, which has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions. Its overpowering smell has led to bans on various modes of public transportation, including airlines and airports, in countries like Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The transport of durians on flights has been a contentious issue, with some passengers refusing to fly due to the fruit's nauseating stench.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Durian |
| Smell | Comparable to raw sewage, rotten onions, cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes |
| Appearance | Covered in spikes |
| Texture | Over-ripened durian has a consistency comparable to sour cream |
| Taste | Sweet and citrusy |
| Nutritional Value | Rich in iron, vitamin C, and potassium |
| Native Countries | Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo |
| Countries with Durian Farms | Sri Lanka, Southern India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Hainan in China |
| Countries with Bans on Public Transport | Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore |
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What You'll Learn
- Durian is banned from airports in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore
- It is also banned from some airlines in Indonesia
- The spiky fruit is considered a delicacy in Asia
- It is also known as the king of fruits and the world's smelliest fruit
- The smell of durian has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions

Durian is banned from airports in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore
The durian fruit is notorious for its strong, unpleasant smell, which has been compared to raw sewage and rotten onions. Its stench is so powerful that it has been banned from airports and other forms of public transportation in several countries. In Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, the durian fruit is prohibited from being transported in airports and on planes due to its overwhelming odour.
In Thailand, the durian fruit is banned on most public transportation, including the Bangkok skytrain lines. Travellers are generally cautious about bringing durian on even short trips due to the fruit's strong smell. The fruit is also banned from airports and planes in Thailand, making it challenging for people to transport the fruit when travelling.
Similarly, in Japan and Hong Kong, the durian fruit's potent smell has led to its ban on various types of public transportation, including airports and planes. The smell of durian is considered so offensive that it can permeate the outer shell and linger long after the fruit has been removed. As a result, those wishing to transport durian in these countries must find alternative means of doing so.
Singapore has also taken a strong stance against the durian fruit on public transportation. It is banned across all forms of public transportation, including taxis, which often display signs refusing to carry passengers transporting the fruit. Despite the health benefits of the fruit, its smell is considered a public nuisance, and it is treated with similar caution to illegal substances.
While some may argue that the bans are excessive, the incidents involving the durian fruit have caused significant disruptions. In one instance, an Indonesian plane was grounded after passengers complained about the smell of two tonnes of durian in the cargo. The situation escalated to the point where passengers and crew members almost came to blows. As a result, airports and airlines in these countries have implemented bans to prevent similar incidents and ensure the comfort and safety of their passengers and staff.
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It is also banned from some airlines in Indonesia
The durian, a fruit native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo, is known for its overpowering stench. The smell has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions, and it is so strong that it lingers long after the fruit has been removed. Due to its pungent odour, the durian has been banned from many forms of public transportation, hotels, and even some airlines.
In Indonesia, an incident involving the fruit caused an entire plane to be grounded. Passengers on a Sriwijaya Air domestic flight from Jakarta to Bengkulu complained about the smell of two tonnes of durians that were in the cargo. The situation escalated to the point where some passengers almost came to blows with crew members. As a result, the airline was forced to unload the sacks of durians before continuing the flight.
While it is not illegal to carry durians on flights in Indonesia, the incident caused Bengkulu airport staff to review the transport of the fruit to avoid similar incidents in the future. Senior corporate communications manager Retri Maya stated that it is permissible to carry durians on flights as long as they are wrapped properly and placed inside the hold, which is a common practice among many airlines.
The durian's strong odour has made it a controversial fruit, with people either loving it or hating it. Despite its infamy, the durian is considered a delicacy in Asia, and it is especially popular in Indonesia, where it is even harvested and shipped overseas. However, its potent smell has led to its restriction on various modes of transportation and accommodations to ensure the comfort of other passengers and guests.
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The spiky fruit is considered a delicacy in Asia
The spiky durian fruit is considered a delicacy in Asia, specifically in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Southern India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the southern Chinese island of Hainan. However, its strong and unpleasant odour has led to it being banned from airports and airlines in several countries.
In November 2018, an Indonesian Sriwijaya Air flight from Jakarta to Bengkulu was grounded after passengers complained about the smell of two tonnes of durians in the cargo. The stench was so potent that some passengers almost came to blows with crew members. Following this incident, Bengkulu airport staff said they would review the transport of durians to avoid similar situations in the future.
Durians are also banned from public transportation and hotels in certain countries, including Thailand, where it is illegal to carry the fruit on the Bangkok skytrain or in taxis. In Singapore, the fruit is banned across all public transportation, and taxis display signs refusing to carry passengers transporting the fruit.
Despite its divisive smell, durian is extremely healthy, containing high levels of iron, vitamin C, and potassium, as well as 23 grams of dietary fibre in a single small fruit. Those who enjoy eating durian tend to prefer it over-ripe, when its flavour is sweeter and more citrusy, although the fruit becomes messier at this stage, with a consistency similar to sour cream.
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It is also known as the king of fruits and the world's smelliest fruit
The durian fruit is so pungent that it has been banned from airports, airlines, and public transportation in several countries. In Singapore, it is banned across all types of public transportation, and even taxis refuse to carry passengers transporting the fruit. The durian is also banned from certain planes and airports in Indonesia. Despite being considered a delicacy in Asia, its potent stench has led to it being prohibited on public transportation and in hotels in certain countries.
The durian is a large, spiky fruit native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo. It has a strong, rank smell that permeates its outer shell and lingers long after the fruit has been removed. The smell has been likened to raw sewage, rotten onions, cream cheese, onion sauce, and sherry wine. Despite the fruit's stench, it is extremely healthy, rich in iron, vitamin C, and potassium. It also contains 23 grams of dietary fiber, which is nearly the entire daily nutritional requirement.
The durian is known as the "king of fruits" to those who enjoy its unique flavor. People who eat durian usually prefer the fruit to be overripe, when its citrus and sweet flavors are more prominent. However, the fruit becomes messier at this stage, with a consistency comparable to sour cream. Traditionally, durians are eaten after they have fallen to the ground on their own, but durian farms often harvest the fruit early to ship it overseas. Under-ripe durians are hard and bitter, almost resembling a vegetable.
The durian's strong smell has made it a controversial fruit, with people either loving or hating it. Its odor is so powerful that it can permeate confined spaces, and its stench only grows stronger over time. The durian's smell is so infamous that humans and dogs can detect it, making it challenging to transport without being noticed. Despite the difficulties, some people find the adventure of smuggling durian exciting, even comparing it to smuggling drugs.
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The smell of durian has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions
The durian fruit is so pungent that it has been banned from certain airports, public transportation, and hotels. Its potent stench has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions. The fruit's smell is so strong that it can be detected from yards away, and it has even been known to cause nausea among those who come into contact with it.
The durian fruit is native to Southeast Asia, where it is considered a delicacy. Despite its popularity in the region, the fruit has garnered a reputation for its strong odor, which has been described as a combination of rotten eggs, garlic, and onions. Some people even compare the smell of durian to sewage or sweaty socks. The unique scent of durian comes from a combination of 44 different scent-producing chemical compounds, including honey, roasted onion, sulfur, and fruit.
The experience of dining on durian has been described as "eating ice cream in an outhouse." Italian explorer Giovanni Battista Cerruti wrote in 1908 that the fruit was "delicious," but he acknowledged that not everyone can appreciate it due to its strong smell. Culinary personality Andrew Zimmern described the taste of durian as "completely rotten, mushy onions," and he was unable to finish it.
The durian fruit is so notorious for its smell that it has even grounded planes. In one incident, an Indonesian airline was forced to unload sacks of durian after passengers complained about the odor. The fruit was being transported in the cargo hold, but the smell was so strong that it permeated into the cabin, causing discomfort among the passengers and crew. The incident highlights the divisive nature of the durian fruit, which some people love while others find it repulsive.
While the durian fruit may be polarizing when it comes to its smell and taste, it is an important part of Southeast Asian culture and cuisine. The fruit is used in a variety of dishes, both sweet and savory, and it is also valued for its medicinal properties. Despite its strong odor, the durian fruit continues to be a beloved delicacy in the regions where it is found.
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Frequently asked questions
Durian, often referred to as the world's smelliest fruit, is banned from airports and airlines in several countries.
The fruit has a strong, rank smell that lingers long after the fruit has been removed. The stench has been likened to raw sewage and rotten onions.
The fruit is banned from public transportation, hotels, and airlines in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It is also banned from planes in Indonesia.











































