Comparing Mint and Durian

Both Durian (Durio zibethinus) and Mint (Mentha canadensis) elicit strong sensory responses. Mint is well known for creating a cold sensation in the mouth after being eaten. This is because the organic chemicals in mint bind to cold temperature gated ion channels on the tongue, thereby activating them the same way cold temperatures do. The brain processes this information identically to eating a popsicle. Hot peppers function similarly having the opposite effect. Durian evokes strong reactions due to its pungent smell in contrast. Its smell is akin to rotten eggs. Durian has such a strong smell that some Asian countries have banned it in many public places in such as hotels and airports. I chose to compare these two plants because while they belong to very different types of plants they are capable of evoking some of the strongest sensory reactions in humans.

Durian might be the strangest food listed on this blog. It is native to southeast Asia and looks similar to Jackfruit. The fruit can be extremely large and they have a spiky exterior. The fleshy inside that can be consumed has a texture similar to custard. It is has also been compared to crème brulee. The fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals that provide numerous health benefits. Durian is sometimes wrapped in rice paper or pancakes to be eaten, but it can also be eaten plain too. It has a very sweet taste that is much better than its smell.

Not only is the fruit of the Durian tree absurd but it also has numerous unique adaptations. It periodically sheds its bark which reduces the chances that it acquires fungal infections in the humid climates of southeast Asia. It also has primarily uses bats for pollination because the male and female flowers open at separate times preventing self-pollination. Additionally, the durian tree has buttress roots that anchor it in thin tropical rainforest soil. It has also been suggested that excessively strong smell of durian could be an adaptation to attract arboreal primates with good olfactory detection as dispersers of the fruit.

Mint is a very different kind of plant. It belongs to the family Lamiaceae which are easily identifiable by their square stems and whorrled leaves. They grow low to the ground and have a weedy appearance. Mint has a long history of being used by people. It has been found in Egyptian tombs that are over a millennium old. Native Americans also used mint for medicinal purposes such as curing tooth ache. They used the species Mentha canadensis or American Wild Mint. Currently the U.S. produces 70% of the world’s mint. It is a part of almost every kitchen’s spice cabinet.

Just like Durian it has a strong odor but fortunately its odor is refreshing rather than pungent. Mint leaves are chopped up into small bits to be used for cooking. They are used to flavor a variety of foods and even tooth paste.

Many people grow mint in their gardens, however, they can be aggressive garden plants because they can asexually reproduce via stolons. Mint grows best in wet conditions so wild mint is often found along riversides.

I have tried mint before of course. I am relatively apathetic about it generally. However, I expect that once I start cooking more I will become more appreciative of it. I am very interested in Durian on the other hand. I fully intend to try it the first chance I get. In the words of the great explorer Alfred Russel Wallace, “The more you eat of it the less inclined you feel to stop.”

Text Sources

https://www.quora.com/What-does-durian-taste-like

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/21/what-is-durian_n_7111232.html

https://www.ehow.com/info_8785170_durian-tree-adaptations.html

https://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S027.htm

https://www.britannica.com/plant/mint-plant

http://topfoodfacts.com/history-and-facts-about-mint/

Image Sources

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/372672937891176452/

https://steemit.com/cook/@cook-it-up/wrapping-durian-pancake

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/476044623089698635/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha_canadensis