Anh Thơ is delighted with the new durian harvest.
During the harvest season, stories unfolding under the durian trees are also fascinating. These stories revolve around the unique aromas in the orchard. Leaving aside the characteristic smell of ripe durian, during the flowering season, from the humorous perspective of a farmer strolling beneath trees densely covered in blossoms and buds, the scent resembles… Chanel perfume. However, not everyone can tolerate these “regal” fragrances.
Or, when accompanying farmers, you'll be taught how to accurately determine the ripeness of durian using a small knife handle. You'll also be taught techniques for counting fruits and branches appropriately; how to distinguish between Ri6 and Thai durians by looking at the leaves...
Following 41-year-old Nguyen Van Tho, we strolled through his durian orchard, which was preparing for harvest in Hamlet 4, Bau Don Commune. Under the laden trees of the more than ten-year-old orchard, the oppressive heat and stuffiness were somewhat alleviated.
Looking up at the branches laden with fruit, Mr. Tho said that this year, due to the hot weather, the durian trees haven't produced as much fruit as last year. After counting for a while, he said that each durian tree only has a few dozen to over 100 fruits. In Mr. Tho's garden, there used to be a durian tree that yielded 300 fruits.
Although there are still more than 10 days until harvest, the scent of ripe durians is already wafting through Mr. Tho's orchard. He picks up the early-ripening fruits that have fallen to the ground, peels them layer by layer with a small knife, and offers guests a sample of the golden-yellow durian segments right in the orchard. The fragrant, sweet, and creamy taste is a hallmark of Bau Don durian's quality.
Picking another durian that was just ripe enough to have a small corner bitten off by a squirrel, Mr. Tho shook his head and said, "This is unsellable now." Then, using a small, sharp knife, he peeled off the hard, fresh green rind full of sharp thorns and offered the customer a piece of the ripe durian flesh. At this stage, the durian had only a faint aroma but was crisp, sweet, and creamy, quite different from the soft, smooth, sweet, and fragrant flesh of fully ripened durian. He said, "Durian at this stage is also very delicious and unique, but not everyone has had the chance to try it."
The durian trees in Mr. Tho's garden are ready for harvest.
Under the trees, Mr. Tho enthusiastically shared his story about his time working with durian trees. More than seven years ago, he had no interest in growing them. But when his family's six acres of durian orchard started bearing fruit, he had to return to take care of them. "At first, everyone is unfamiliar with the process and faces difficulties. The first year or two are not very effective, but by the third year, after accumulating some experience, things improve," Mr. Tho said.
In the early days, Mr. Tho diligently learned through trips to the Mekong Delta, visiting farmers' orchards in the area, participating in technical training, and joining cooperatives. Gradually, he mastered the techniques of caring for, fertilizing, and shaping durian trees to produce round, beautiful fruit. Although he has only been in the profession for 6 years, Mr. Tho confidently shares his techniques with those who need them, and he also takes on the job of tending orchards for hire. "The land in Bau Don is blessed by nature to produce durian with a uniquely delicious taste compared to other regions. The product has also been certified as a 4-star OCOP product by the province," Mr. Tho said.
The more involved he becomes with durian trees, the more passionate he grows, so Mr. Tho is always eager to learn. For him, the greatest joy is going to the orchard, personally tending to the durian trees, watching them bloom and bear fruit, and experiencing a bountiful harvest with good prices. However, according to him, caring for a durian orchard is also very hard work, requiring attention to everything related to tree care and pest and disease prevention to ensure a beautiful, round durian fruit.
With a small orchard of just over 70 trees, Mr. Tho is the main caretaker, only hiring help during harvest season. Every day, from over 5 am, Mr. Tho arrives at the orchard to water, fertilize, spray pesticides, and care for the fruit. Sometimes he stays at the orchard until 8 or 9 pm before returning home. Mr. Tho says, "I especially enjoy the bustling atmosphere during the durian harvest season; the people picking and transporting the fruit create a lively atmosphere throughout the orchard." Besides tending his own orchard, Mr. Tho also buys and sells durians, which provides him with additional income. It can be said that over the past six years, durian has brought Mr. Tho many bountiful harvests, allowing him to buy more land to establish new orchards and fuel his growing passion for the crop.
Currently, Mr. Tho is building a small hut in the garden to serve as a resting and relaxing place for himself and his friends; for him, the durian garden is not only a workplace but also a gathering place to meet close friends.
With years of experience growing durian, Mr. Tho said he has come up with many ways to prepare dishes from this fruit. His favorite is durian stew. To cook it, you have to choose durians that are just ripe. Pork ribs or tail are marinated with pureed ripe durian to absorb the flavor, then cooked until tender before adding the durian pulp.
He also created durian coffee. Durian and coffee extract are blended together until smooth, and served with ice cubes, it's very appealing.
Vi Xuan
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