Packaged durian allows aficionados to bring it home

Packaged durian allows aficionados to bring it home

Many durian aficionados have difficulty bringing home durian on
airplanes or with courier service companies due to its pungent
odor. Now, they can carry or order durian in plastic boxes from
durian vendors like Rizal.

A small package (sized 17 x 15 centimeters) is offered at Rp
50,000 while a big one (sized 20 x 25 centimeters) is Rp 75,000.
The packages are brought or sent to Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta
and even Singapore.

To eliminate the strong smell of durian, the peeled durian is
placed in a plastic box. Then, the box is wrapped in a plastic
sheet before being wrapped again with a plastic sheet powdered
with coffee. Next, the package is smeared with crushed turmeric
leaves before being wrapped with another plastic sheet. Then it
is coated with brown paper and ready to carry.

"Through this layered-packaging, consumers can either carry or
send durian by airplane or courier services companies. People can
only smell turmeric instead of durian. Even the slightest durian
smell from the package will make airlines or courier services
refuse to deliver the package," Rizal said.

-- Haidir Anwar Tanjung