Just when you think you know every single fruit there is in your country, you come across a couple of delightful new ones.
Sabah is a place that still holds many secrets close to her heart. When we were out at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu ( approximately forty minutes from Kota Kinabalu), we stopped at long row of stalls, filled with irresistible snacks vegetables and fruits of all shapes and colours.
There were the usual Malaysian fruits such as pomelo, chiku and mangoes that you can find in every nook and cranny out in the peninsular, making us go, "Been there, done that."
Sabah is a place that still holds many secrets close to her heart. When we were out at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu ( approximately forty minutes from Kota Kinabalu), we stopped at long row of stalls, filled with irresistible snacks vegetables and fruits of all shapes and colours.
There were the usual Malaysian fruits such as pomelo, chiku and mangoes that you can find in every nook and cranny out in the peninsular, making us go, "Been there, done that."
Then something caught our eye. And had us cracking our heads.
A rather prickly looking fruit stared at intruders from a corner. Havaing learnt the hard way how sharp the thorns of a durian can be, I poked it cautiously. Hey! It was quite soft, reminding me of one of those squashy toys that kids love.
“I assure you, you would never have tasted anything like this in KL!” gushed our Sabahan friend . So the Talap was packed up for us.
A rather prickly looking fruit stared at intruders from a corner. Havaing learnt the hard way how sharp the thorns of a durian can be, I poked it cautiously. Hey! It was quite soft, reminding me of one of those squashy toys that kids love.
“I assure you, you would never have tasted anything like this in KL!” gushed our Sabahan friend . So the Talap was packed up for us.
She was right, and it wasn’t just the taste that was unusual.
That night, the smell of diesel wafted around our room. Since the Ria Lodge was close to the main road, we assumed it was from the many huge lorries that plied the road.
When we finally opened up the fruit two days later, we realised that it was the talap that gave out that lovely “fragrance” you get at some petrol stations. Don’t wrinkle your nose in disgust just yet.
The taste was unique. The fruit was an exotic mixture of passion fruit and a very slight taste of durian tucked away somewhere in there. Rich, creamy, succulent. If it were to be sold over here, I’m sure Malaysians on over on this side will get addicted to it. So, why isn’t it? Haven’t got a good answer to that one yet.
That night, the smell of diesel wafted around our room. Since the Ria Lodge was close to the main road, we assumed it was from the many huge lorries that plied the road.
When we finally opened up the fruit two days later, we realised that it was the talap that gave out that lovely “fragrance” you get at some petrol stations. Don’t wrinkle your nose in disgust just yet.
The taste was unique. The fruit was an exotic mixture of passion fruit and a very slight taste of durian tucked away somewhere in there. Rich, creamy, succulent. If it were to be sold over here, I’m sure Malaysians on over on this side will get addicted to it. So, why isn’t it? Haven’t got a good answer to that one yet.
By the way there’s another fruit over in Sabah, called the lemak manis (literally, in Malay it means “sweet fat”). Have you tried it yet? I know I’ve got a pix of it sitting somewhere about ………
2 comments:
This is one exotic seasonal fruit. But when is the season? Time for Durian to meet his Queen. I wonder how that aroma will be in the room when both fruits in its ripest moment meet each other match.
Now you got me looking for lemak manis too.
Not sure of season; we picked it up in January. Frankly, when the King meets the Queen,I hope the windows are all left wide open!!! Lemak manis was rich beyond words, with something about it that made you think of an avacado....
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