The fruit everyone loves to hate – durian – is the top seller at Pattaya-area markets.
With the hot season here, a panoply of fruit is coming into season and priced to move at Wat Chaimongkol Market in South Pattaya.
Ripe mangoes, mangosteen, zalacca, longkong, lychees, and rambutan are selling as low as 40 baht per kilogram and no more than 100 baht per kilo. But smelly durian has been the best seller at 80-100 baht per kilogram.
At Rattanakorn Thepprasit, a big fruit market, vendors said that the most popular fruits for both export and direct sales are golden bananas, lychees, longkong, watermelons, zalacca, barracuda mango, and durian.
The price of fruit sold in this market is much lower than others in Pattaya because there’s no middleman.
Durian is being sold there both wholesale and retail in lots of 150-200 kg. for 70-80 baht per kilo.
Tourists buy fruit at the market in front of Wat Chaimongkol. Durian (front, lower left) especially becomes popular during the hot season.
Vendors can earn roughly 10,000-14,000 baht per day. The street vendors or pickup vendors in Pattaya said the market was still stable depending on tourists in the area.
The smell of durian is “unique”. In many public places, its consumption is forbidden because the smell is so strong.
Its texture is like custard and the taste like almond. Durian can help to reduce cholesterol because it contains polyphenols and fibers to reduce cholesterol. However, intake must be limited to a single fruit a day to be useful.
Moreover, durian has antioxidants. Hence, eating durian in proper portions will benefit health and prevent diseases such as heart disease, cancer and others, its advocates claim.
Durians may be a very good source of nutrients, but they are also high in calories and carbohydrates. A durian can have anywhere from 885 calories to 1,500 calories depending on its size.
