1 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor production of iHeartRadio. I'm Annie 2 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: Reese and. 3 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 2: I'm more on Vocal Bam and today we have an 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 2: episode for you about dragon fruit. 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: Yes we do, oh because I've mentioned Life Day, very 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: important holiday for me just past. This is the infamous 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,639 Speaker 1: Star Wars Holiday special nineteen seventy nine where we were 8 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: introduced to a Wookie holiday. I would call it Star 9 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: Wars Christmas meat Thanksgiving, okay, yeah, but it was presented 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: in a seventies variety show and it was a ride, 11 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: is what we'll say. But I'll also say Life Day 12 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: has gone mainstream. There are now like a f things 13 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: like not fan made things, official things you could buy 14 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: around Life Day. There is a cookbook that I have 15 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: and as I was getting ready for Life Day, which 16 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: is on November seventeenth, I was perusing this cookbook and 17 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: I was looking for something we could talk about that 18 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: would be Life Day adjacent. And we've done a lot 19 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: of them already, but one ingredient I kept seeing was 20 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: dragon fruit. Oh okay, okay, yes, which I suspect is 21 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: for it's you know, in heavy quote, so like oh, 22 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: the worldly experience. It is a unique looking thing. 23 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, they look, they look stunning, honestly, and yes, I 24 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: feel like there has been There's definitely been a show 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 2: that was not set on this world that I watched 26 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: relatively recently in which a nice prop master had just 27 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: like put a dragon fruit out on a table and I. 28 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: Was like, huh huh, okay, cool. Yeah, I mean they're 29 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: really really beautiful. I don't think I've never bought one. 30 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: I've never know to cut one, although I'm eager to 31 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: learn more from you, Lauren, but I hear it's not 32 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: that hard. It looks like it'd be difficult. 33 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, I've I've I've purchased exactly one to to 34 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: kind of yeah, I was like, what is this about, 35 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 2: Let's find out. And to be honest, the one that 36 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: I got wasn't super exciting to me, Like it's again, 37 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: very pretty, extremely photogenic, but but the flavor to me 38 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: was kind of just bland. But but I've heard that 39 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: that's something that a lot of producers are working with 40 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: to try to improve and that there is different bridals 41 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: that are a little bit more strongly flavored. So or 42 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: maybe I just got a dud. I mean, it's natural 43 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 2: product that that can that can happen. 44 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: But yeah, yeah, definitely not. 45 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: Difficult to work with, Like they look like they're going 46 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: to give you a lot of trouble, but it was. 47 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: It was. 48 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 2: I mean, I would liken it to an apple or 49 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: orange experience. 50 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, their their insights are also pretty striking. So 51 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: I feel like I have had it in like a 52 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 1: fruit bowl situation, I feel like I've had it. I've 53 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,839 Speaker 1: just never personally bought it, cut it, worked with it, 54 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: but I think I have had it, And a lot 55 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: of descriptions I've read was that it's kind of a 56 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: very despite its fabulous appearance, it's kind of a milder taste. Yeah, totally, So, 57 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: I don't know. I would love to hear more from 58 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: listeners about this. I have not currently made the recipes 59 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: I guess clearly from the Life Day book that include 60 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: dragon fruit, but I'm interested. I am interested. I like 61 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:58,119 Speaker 1: a good nerdy recipe that we just ordered in because 62 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: it was a very busy day. 63 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, but but yeah, yeah, yeah, as soon as 64 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: you do, you'll have to you'll have to update us well. 65 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: As you know, I have long been threatening, slash cajoling 66 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: you too watch the Life Special with me, So perhaps 67 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: that will be the day, Yeah, all right, sure, but 68 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: in the meantime dragon fruit what is it? 69 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 2: Well, dragonfruit are the fruit of a type of cactus, 70 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: and they do look just really wild, sort of alien 71 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: or dragon like, I guess, hence the name. They grow 72 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 2: to about the size of a fist. They're sort of 73 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 2: oval in shape and have the skin that has these 74 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 2: like large spiked, protective waxy leaves enclosing this crisp juicy 75 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: kind of look mildly sweet and sour to maybe a 76 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 2: little bit earthy flesh that's shot through with tiny black seeds, 77 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: and the lee in the flesh can both come in 78 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: stunning colors like deep magenta, like the color out of space, 79 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: like absolutely like violet and magenta sometimes with the with 80 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: the tips of the leaves green in contrast, and the 81 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 2: flesh can be a similar color too, or a little 82 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: bit lighter pinkish or white. But even when it is white, 83 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 2: it's contrast with those black seeds is just so striking. 84 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: The flesh is usually what people are going for, though 85 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 2: the leaves and flowers or the skin and flowers are 86 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 2: also edible. That flesh is either eaten raw or processed 87 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: into beverages or desserts. It uh, yeah, it looks like 88 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: a dragon egg. That's what it looks like. It looks 89 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: like the egg of a dragon. And it tastes crisp 90 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: and refreshing, like a kind of like a mild pair 91 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 2: with crunchy little seeds, kind of like Kiwi seeds. 92 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: It's it is. 93 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 2: It is like someone from Props wished real hard for 94 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: like a sustainable bit of set dressing that grows on trees. Yeah, 95 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: and here the dragon fruit is yep, yeah, there you go. 96 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: Or okay, not technically on trees, because yes, botanically, dragon 97 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: fruit plants are categorized as a few species within the 98 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: highlo serious genus, which is part of the cactus family. 99 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,679 Speaker 2: In the Americas, they're sometimes called pataya or pedaaya, which 100 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 2: can lead to a little bit of confusion because there 101 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: are some other cactus fruits that go by the same name. 102 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 2: There's also a little bit of confusion about their genus classification. 103 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 2: As we've talked about before, taxonomy is something that scientists 104 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: like kind of enjoy arguing about. But in this case, 105 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 2: the plants are not helping because they do cross pollenate easily. 106 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 2: So anyway, yes, this plant is a cactus, and if 107 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 2: you've ever seen what's called a Christmas cactus, although I 108 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: don't know why they're called that because their genus name 109 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: is Schlumbergera, which is amazing, Like, give me the option 110 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: to call something Schlumbergera and I am on top of that. 111 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: Anyway, Christmas cactus. 112 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 2: The dragon fruit plant looks a little bit like a 113 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: version of that that has just gone truly huge, just 114 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: absolutely like Jurassic in size. Or if you're familiar with 115 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: the orchid cactus, yeah, the dragon fruit plant is closely 116 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 2: related to that. It is a tropical to subtropical cactus 117 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 2: that grows these these thick, fleshy, jointed stems, just like 118 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: big old clusters of these flatish ribbed, wavy branches, often 119 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: with small spikes coming off of the sides. The number 120 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: of ribs on each stem is being pointed to is 121 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: a way to distinguish different genera Hilo serious or Salina serious. 122 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: That's that's not that's that's more detail than you probably needed, 123 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: but I found it fascinating. 124 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: Anyway, here we go. 125 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: They are planted in the ground, but those stems can 126 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 2: grow like twenty feet long, so they're given trellises that 127 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: they can climb up along and then kind of drape 128 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 2: back down over and they'll put out aerial roots out 129 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: into the trellises, and the overall effect when they reach 130 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 2: full size is like a like a huge draping kind 131 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: of meaty fern or like a willow. The plants can 132 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,439 Speaker 2: live about thirty years, and once they're mature, they can 133 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 2: produce some hundred kilos that's about two hundred and twenty 134 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 2: pounds of fruit every year. Wow, they do that by Okay. 135 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 2: The tips of the stems might flower during warm months 136 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: with these big, pretty fragrant like white cream or maybe 137 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 2: pink flowers. The flowers can grow up to like fourteen 138 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: by nine inches that's like thirty five by twenty five centimeters. 139 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: It's big. 140 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 2: They only open at night, and I think I have 141 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 2: this correct. They open for one night only, yeah, and 142 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: thus depend on night pollinators like moths or bats, or 143 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 2: more likely human intervention in order to grow fruit. The 144 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 2: fruit that develops is again oblong, maybe about four and 145 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 2: a half inches or eleven centimeters thick or so. It 146 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: comes in four basic varieties. Okay, pinkish red skin with 147 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 2: flesh that's either white, pinkish red, or purple or yellow 148 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 2: skin with flesh that's white. All of them again have 149 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 2: the same small black seeds, and all are relatively mild 150 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 2: in flavor. I've read that the yellow types taste a 151 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:06,239 Speaker 2: little stronger and sweeter. Again, if you've never seen one, 152 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: they are stunning. If you have experience with these different varietals, 153 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 2: right in and let us know. 154 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: Yes. 155 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: It is often eaten raw, peeled and diced, or maybe 156 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 2: scooped directly from a halved fruit, and then you know 157 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 2: used however, you use fresh fruit on its own or 158 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: in sweet or savory dishes. It's also sold frozen for 159 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 2: these uses, but it can be made into like juice 160 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 2: or wine, or cooked down into jam, or processed into desserts, 161 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 2: especially frozen desserts, and like jellies like gelatins. Yeah but yeah, 162 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: the peel is also edible. I understand. It's a little 163 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: bit bitter and used perhaps more like processed for color 164 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: than for actual flavor. Syrups made from it are used 165 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 2: to color pastries and candies. It's sometimes dried and then 166 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 2: used to steep in hot water as a sort of tea, 167 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 2: or deep fried into chips and eaten as a snack 168 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 2: or topping on other dishes. I know right, speaking of 169 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 2: deep frying, the flowers are also edible, and they can 170 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: be cooked like you would cook any kind of soft vegetable, 171 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: you know, similarred into a soup or sauteed or battered 172 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: in deep fried. 173 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: Sold, sold, all of the above. 174 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 2: The fruit is also prized as like an ornamental object, 175 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 2: and I've read that it's a symbol of good fortune 176 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 2: in some Chinese cultures in particular again right in Also, 177 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 2: it's extracts, especially those bright pigments, are being investigated for 178 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: various uses as a die for foods and cosmetics, and 179 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 2: for potential medicinal properties. Yes, well, what about the nutrition 180 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 2: by itself? Dragon fruit is pretty good you lots of fiber, 181 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: little bit of protein, smattering of micronutrients, not too much 182 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 2: sugar As with other vegetation. The more brightly colored they are, 183 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 2: the more like extra nutritional punch ups they're likely to contain. 184 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: It's really great for adding crunch and visual interest to 185 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 2: a salad or a yogurt, parfe or other fresh dishes 186 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 2: like that. You know, it'll help fill you up, but 187 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 2: to keep you going. Parrot with a protein and a 188 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 2: fat m. 189 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: Just like dragons do. So I hear we do have 190 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: some numbers for you. 191 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: We do, okay. As of this year twenty twenty three, 192 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 2: the global market for dragon fruit was valued at over 193 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: fourteen billion dollars in growing Wow. Asia Pacific grows and 194 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: consumes the most, but Europe is the fastest growing market segment. 195 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 2: The US imports most of our dragon fruit from Vietnam. 196 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 2: They they are the world's largest producer. They grow about 197 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: half of the world's supply of dragon fruit, and we're 198 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: not even their largest importer. That honor goes to China, 199 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: which imports as much as eighty percent of what Vietnam grows. 200 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: How much was that? 201 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: As of twenty nineteen, I can tell you Vietnam had 202 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: about fifty five thousand hectares of land planted with dragonfruit 203 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 2: and was producing some one point two million metric tons 204 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: every year. 205 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: Wow hoofed up. 206 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 2: Also side note, I still cannot get over the fact 207 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 2: that someone named their market research company mortor Intelligence. 208 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: It gets me every time I know, and I feel 209 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: like we've never gotten to the bottom of this, But 210 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: every time we're like, did they do that? How intentional 211 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: was this? 212 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: I you know, I haven't looked that hard because I 213 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: kind of don't want to know I just hope it's nerds. 214 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 2: I hope it's nerds. Back to dragon fruit. Other economically 215 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 2: important producers include Thailand, Israel, Mexico, Colombia, and Taiwan. Okay, 216 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: there's a couple festivals for dragon fruit here and there. 217 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty three marked the second annual Dragonfruit Festival in 218 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 2: the province of Gamaris in the Philippines. I hope I'm 219 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: saying that right. 220 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: I did look it up. 221 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: This is the second year they've held this ten day 222 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: agro tourism event in August. Events include a parade with 223 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: dragon fruit inspired costumes, farm tours, music, and some like 224 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: educational slash business type sessions. 225 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 226 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 2: The area has about twenty eight hector's planted, producing some 227 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 2: fifteen tons of fruit a year. Meanwhile, a small town 228 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: in Mexico called Mira Flores held its thirty first annual 229 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 2: bita Aya Festival this year in July. And it features 230 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: many kinds of cactus fruits and there's music and foods 231 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 2: like jams and drinks and cherberts made from the fruit. 232 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 2: And a horse cavalcade. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, big, big 233 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 2: horse rearing area, especially in the past, so yeah. 234 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: Well as always, listeners, please let us know if you've 235 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: been any my goodness pictures welcome. 236 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, anything about those costumes would be excited to 237 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 2: hear about. 238 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: Yes, But we do have a lot of history for 239 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: you in the meantime. 240 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 2: We do, and we are going to get into that 241 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 2: as soon as we get back from a quick break. 242 00:15:50,160 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: For a word from our sponsors, and we're back. Thank 243 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: you sponsor, Yes, thank you. 244 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: So the dragon fruit is native to Mexico, Central America, 245 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: and South America. This one is kind of a dry 246 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: one because it's just the records that they have. But 247 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: these records do indicate records from that region that date 248 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: back to the thirteenth century, that it was around there, 249 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: and that it spread via birds. Producers propagated and cultivated 250 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: and experimented with dragonfruit to come up with an edible crop. 251 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: But yeah, in the early days, people and birds spread 252 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: the seeds to neighboring islands in the Caribbean. But there 253 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: are a few popular legends about dragon fruit, Okay, Yes. 254 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: One of the most repeated goes like this, thousands of 255 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: years ago, when fire breathing dragons breathed their last breath 256 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: out would come a dragon fruit. Yeah. If a human 257 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: slay a dragon. They would take the fruit and present 258 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: it to royalty as proof of their prowess, and the 259 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: dragon would be butchered and eaten by soldiers who were 260 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: hoping to be granted the dragon's strength. The meat near 261 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: the tail, which is where the core of their fire rested, 262 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 1: was the most coveted, and the taste for that meat 263 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: is what led to the extinction of dragons. Ah, which 264 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: is a cool story. And again it is a very 265 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: visually striking fruit. Yeah, I can totally see that. 266 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would not be surprised if a dragon coughed 267 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 2: went up. 268 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: No, not at all, not at all. As with most things, 269 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: colonization and globalization spread dragon fruit production far and wide, 270 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: most notably in Asia. The Spanish introduced it to the 271 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: Philippines in the sixteenth century. By sixteen forty five it 272 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: was in China. The French introduced it to Vietnam and 273 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: surrounding areas sometime around eighteen sixty, where, according to some records, 274 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: it was first grown exclusively for Vietnam's royal family and 275 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: the wealthy. 276 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 2: It had been introduced to Taiwan before that happened, back 277 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:21,880 Speaker 2: in like the seventeen hundreds or so, but it didn't 278 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 2: become an economic crop until new varieties were reintroduced to 279 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 2: Taiwan from Vietnam. 280 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: A shipment from Mexico heading for China introduced the dragon 281 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: fruit to Hawaii in eighteen thirty. Apparently a majority of 282 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: the crop had died during transport, and this they were 283 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: discarded during a stu Hawaii, but some of them were 284 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: still alive and were planted, and then they flourished, yes, 285 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: and were at first typically grown as an ornamental crop. Uh. 286 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: The first known record of dragon fruits in Florida isn't 287 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: until nineteen sixty two, though it probably was being cultivated 288 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: there much earlier than that. 289 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 2: It was not introduced to Israel until the nineteen eighties, 290 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 2: but became a popular commercial crop for export to Europe 291 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 2: due to Israel's proximity to Europe. 292 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: Yes, and beginning in the twentieth century, dragon fruit was 293 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: being grown commercially on a wide scale in many places, 294 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 1: including in Southeast Asian countries and even more particularly in Vietnam. Yes. 295 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: In other cases it has become naturalized or classified as 296 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: an invasive species. Yes. In many places like South Africa 297 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: and Brazil, it was introduced as an ornamental plant and 298 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:42,919 Speaker 1: then became invasive. 299 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, but right, you know, like the spread of this fruit. 300 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 2: The fruit is a little bit delicate when it's fresh, 301 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 2: which means that as shipping technologies have improved, it's created 302 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: interest in new markets, which has then created interest in 303 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 2: new growing areas. As it is or it certainly can 304 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 2: be a high value crop. Each individual fruit may be 305 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 2: sold for like a couple bucks apiece, working out to 306 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 2: like eight dollars or more a pound. 307 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: Right, and there is a lot of interest in this. 308 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: I found an article specifically about dragon fruit in California 309 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: and San Diego County. So since two thousand and seven, 310 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: the Wallace Ranch dragon fruit farm in San Diego County 311 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: has hosted a dragon fruit production tour for growers of 312 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: all levels in twenty twenty. They did go on hiatus 313 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: for two years, but when they opened registration in twenty 314 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: twenty two, it sold out in twenty four hours. Yes, 315 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: one of the participants said of the event that they 316 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 1: couldn't recall a year when the event didn't sell out. 317 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 1: I believe it's sixty people per tour. But yeah, there's 318 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: an excitement and there's people of all levels. Like I said, 319 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: there are people who are like, look, to get into it. 320 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: There are people who are into it but want to 321 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: know more like it's there is an interest for it 322 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: for sure. 323 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's that's awesome. I mean they again, 324 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 2: they're really beautiful, and especially in this our modern era 325 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 2: of like instagrammable foods, I can see where people would 326 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 2: be interested in growing it. The plants are also super pretty, 327 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 2: Like I like looking up photos of these plants, I 328 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 2: was like, do I need to try to grow a 329 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 2: drive for a plant? 330 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: Is that what I'm up to? 331 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: I don't know. 332 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: Yes, so then I can complete my life day feast, which, 333 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: by the way, the color of life day is also red. 334 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: Oh so yeah, food also kind of fits in that way, yeah, 335 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: kind of. Yeah, it's a chase, so sure. Yeah. Oh 336 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: well it is like a really I'm not exaggerating at 337 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: all that I could see and a lot of like 338 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: stories and fairy tales about how it came to be 339 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: because it is I know, we've used this word a 340 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: couple of times, but it's striking. It is like visually yah. Yeah, 341 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: and I love that it only opens up at night 342 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: like mad ones. That's wild. 343 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I really I really want to find like a 344 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 2: botanical garden that has like a like a big full 345 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 2: plant and take a take a close up look at it, 346 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 2: because they. 347 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: Sound they sound really amazing. They do, they do. I 348 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: want to as well, And you know, listeners as always, 349 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: if you've seen one, if you have pictures, if you've 350 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: grown one. Yeah, yes, oh my gosh. But I think 351 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: that's what we have to say about the Dragon Fruit 352 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,160 Speaker 1: for now. It is. 353 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 2: But we do already have some listener mail for you though, 354 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: and we are going to get into that as soon 355 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: as we get back from one more quick break for 356 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: word from our sponsors, and we're back. 357 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: Thank you, sponsored, Yes, thank you, and we're back with 358 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: your school The Last Breath of the Dragon Beautiful. We're 359 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: having kind of a goofy recording day. Everybody, we are, 360 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: we are life day, you know. Yeah, it's just the joy. 361 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: The joy is just bubbling up out of us instead 362 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 2: of viable sentences. So yes, it's fine, which is sort 363 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 2: of a difficulty for podcasting. Yeah, it's okay. 364 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: I will say this letter, which is another letter we're 365 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: pulling in half because it's a little long, but again, 366 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: never that's not a bad thing at all. Please keep 367 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: the long letters coming. I think also involves something I 368 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: could see in a life day situation. 369 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 3: The diry ah okay okay, yes, Kenner wrote, I write 370 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 3: to you from a place of abject and ignominious defeat. 371 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: I like to consider myself a fairly adventurous eater, and 372 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: in fact have been accused of being a human garbage 373 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: disposal by my friends. I also have a very strong stomach. 374 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: I've worked in science labs with a variety of smells 375 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: ranging from pink thinner and hogfarts, so we gold bee 376 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: from and slowly rotting in the garbage disposal, and have 377 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: still been able to have a hearty lunch. I am 378 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: unfazed by liver and onions, weirdly expensive funky cheeses that 379 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: I paid too much for on sale to consider throwing out, 380 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: and the smell of burnt popcorn, and yet I am defeated. 381 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 1: This morning, my brother and I went shopping at the 382 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: local Southeast Asian supermarket. Four ingredients were vegan Thanksgiving lovely 383 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: things like mushrooms and black bean paste, baby bakchoi and 384 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: extra long green beans, bean sprouts and satan faux beef tips, 385 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 1: sessme oil and curry paste. As I was trying to 386 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: remember which per simmons are delicious, and which tastes like 387 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: getting a cavity field he saw it, a singular frozen Durian, 388 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: cracked open like a spiky seed pod, slightly wilted looking, 389 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: but the approximate size of a pineapple. And it was 390 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:25,120 Speaker 1: only seven dollars. My brother's eyes lit up. He went 391 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: to Malaysia earlier this year to do fieldwork for his PhD, 392 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 1: and he swore up and down that everyone he met there, 393 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: including the American students, loved Durian. They ate it in 394 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: the field, they ate it on the bus, They ate 395 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: it on the bus to field sites. They ate it fresh, 396 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: they ate it in stew, they ate it on rice, 397 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: They ate it for breakfast. His PhD is now Durian powered. 398 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: I was mildly, mildly dubious. This is a man who 399 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: once produced a Mother's Day breakfast of peanut butter and 400 00:25:54,480 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: mustard on burnt joes. I'm willing willingly re engineering a 401 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving feast with him, So it's several years too late 402 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: to doubt his ability to create edible food. Plus, I 403 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,199 Speaker 1: thought I knew something about Durian. I listened to your 404 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 1: Durian episode way back when, and It was described by 405 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: alleged experts as kind of vanilla e kind of custardy, 406 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:25,160 Speaker 1: but with an overwhelmingly funky scent cheesy. I assumed maybe 407 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: a bit of the off putting meatiness without substance of 408 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 1: bovine serum albumin, or the lightly plasticy taste of woodier mushrooms. 409 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: I remembered garlic and vanilla coming up, and figured that 410 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,719 Speaker 1: the combination was probably off putting enough to give Durian 411 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: its reputation. 412 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 2: Kind of continues. I smelled it. It smelled like lightly 413 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 2: sweetened goat cheese with a hint of leaks. Overall mild 414 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: enough to keep in an enclosed room with all the 415 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 2: other produce. I figured the intensity of the smell would 416 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 2: increase when the fruit was not frozen, but decided I'd 417 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 2: give it a try. A wee bought it, took it 418 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: to my parents' house to thaw. Fast forward to after dinner, 419 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 2: a lovely curry designed to use up whatever was taking 420 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 2: up room in the fridge that wasn't earmarked for the feast. 421 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: The Durian a left in my parents' covered porch for 422 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 2: several hours, had thawed. Friends, the smell of the Durian 423 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:22,360 Speaker 2: did not increase. It changed completely for something so polarizing. 424 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 2: It's a weirdly light scent, but it's not sweet or 425 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 2: herbal or any scent that most people would name. Instead 426 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,679 Speaker 2: of smelling like a cheese that didn't know if it 427 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:36,440 Speaker 2: was sweeter savory, or like rotting fruit or compost or 428 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: eggs or anything that had ever been living, it smelled 429 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 2: like a gas leak and not the rotten egg smell 430 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 2: of natural gas. It smelt like pumping gas into a 431 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 2: rusted out barrel. It smelled like like the dirty bunsen 432 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 2: burners in my high school chemistry lab. It smelt like 433 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,159 Speaker 2: a hundred years worth of tin cans being bathed in 434 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 2: lighter fluid. It smelled like someone pickled a rotting leak 435 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 2: and kerosene indescribable ah. It smells like the inside of 436 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 2: an oil lamp that someone dissolved plato in. It smells 437 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 2: like a reminder that vanilla on its own doesn't actually 438 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 2: taste sweet. It smells like I could strike a match 439 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 2: in front of my face and breathe fire. And it 440 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 2: tastes like if you removed all the flavor molecules from 441 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 2: a banana at the cellular level, turned it into a 442 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,439 Speaker 2: pudding and let it sit in a metal tray at 443 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 2: a buffet for a week until it developed a pudding 444 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 2: skin more durable than plastic wrap. Also, the seed in 445 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 2: the middle of each lobe feels strangely compressed, like a 446 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 2: little puck of laminate flooring. I had one lobe the 447 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 2: approximate size of an apricot. I tried washing my hands 448 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 2: and mouth. I tried saltwater gargle. I tried mince. I 449 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 2: tried salsa. I tried pickles. I tried inserting my nose 450 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 2: directly into a bottle of homemade salad dressing. Nothing worked, 451 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 2: because once you have eaten the Durian, the smell lives 452 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 2: inside your sinuses and lungs like it pays rent. Every 453 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: so often it will waft back through your brain like 454 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 2: a chemical spill. That damn durian is sitting on my parents' 455 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: porch table like a curse, because my brother insists he's 456 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 2: going to finish eating it, even though it is and 457 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: I quote, not a good Durian. I have retired to 458 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: google whether it is safe to put toothpaste into your nostrils. 459 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 2: Happy Thanksgiving, This is a work of art. Thank you, 460 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. Oh wow, very descriptive. Thank you Kenna, 461 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: Thank you Annie for giving me that to read. 462 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: That was lovely. Oh my goodness, that's beautiful, so good, 463 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: very dramatic, felt like reading a horror story. I loved it. 464 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: Uh wow, oh holy heck. It's hard to say, you know, 465 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: because we still haven't I haven't had any Yeah, I 466 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: don't think. 467 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, not certainly, not fresh or previously frozen, you know. 468 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 2: Like I like, like I had a little bit of 469 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 2: like a little like like packaged pastry, like like a 470 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 2: little uh like like puff pastry twist that had some 471 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 2: like Durian like jam in it, but that that is 472 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 2: clearly a different experience than this, because I was kind 473 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: of like, why does this jam taste like garlic? 474 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: And like? 475 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 2: But that was like, that was all I really felt 476 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 2: about it. 477 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: I'm a little worried that you will be haunted by 478 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: this Durian for the rest of your life. To be honest, 479 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: I know it sounds. I mean, it's lurking. It knows 480 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: you now, it does, it does. And you've tried all 481 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: of these things, very creative solutions, desperate solutions, and that 482 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: didn't work. So I don't know, Well, I hope the 483 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: rest of your meals go well during the holidays. 484 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I hope that something eventually. I hope that it's 485 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 2: like a like like getting a song stuck in your 486 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 2: head kind of and that like eventually you kind of 487 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 2: get it out and like, yeah, maybe it'll pop back, 488 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 2: but like less less intensely every time, you know. 489 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: Right, and you know, maybe one day you'll try a 490 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: different Durian and it'll be a good Durian or maybe it'll 491 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: be the same. That's the curse of the d I 492 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,080 Speaker 1: would love to hear how your brother's experience goes, if 493 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: you did eat the rest of it. Yeah, yeah, well 494 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 1: let us know, yeah, get us updated on the story 495 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: situation everybody else as well. Absolutely, yes, oh yes, well. 496 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much to Kenna for writing in. If 497 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: you would like to write to us, you can our 498 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 1: emails hello at savorpod dot com, and we're also on 499 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: social media. 500 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 2: You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at 501 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 2: saber pod and we do hope to hear from you. 502 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 2: Savere is production of iHeartRadio. Four more podcasts from my 503 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: Heart Radio. You can visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 504 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 2: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Thanks as 505 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 2: always to our super producers. 506 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. 507 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:36,800 Speaker 2: Thanks to you for listening, and we hope that lots 508 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 2: more good things are coming your way.