Thai durian big hit in China as a pizza topping

The Thai durian is becoming increasingly popular in China, especially among the affluent middle class. The durian is now used as a pizza topping in addition to desserts and cakes.

This particular dish is the flagship product of Blue & Brown, a cafe in downtown Shanghai. Since opening in September 2012, they sell an average of 70 durian pizzas per day, according to owner Dai Ge.

Due to the use of imported, frozen durian fruit from Thailand, cheese and a secret sauce, the pizza is a hit with Chinese students, among others. Customers respond with: “The combination of durian and pizza is great” and “The thick cheese layer masks the strong taste of the durian”.

Demand for the spiky fruit is on the rise in China. Rising wealth among the middle class has driven Chinese demand for the exotic fruit. China's durian imports increased by about 20% between 2009 and 2010 to $150 million.

Thailand had a monopoly on the durian market until 2011, when China also allowed Malaysian imports. Since then, the stock has grown. China now imports frozen durians worth $5 million from Malaysia each year. But Chinese fruit retailers say the 'Golden Pillow' - a type of durian shipped from Thailand - is still the market's bestseller.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com