Single durian sells for US$48,000 at Thai auction

 

Image: File Photo

 

NONTHABURI, Thailand: A treasured durian fruit has sold for a staggering 1.5 million baht at an auction in Thailand.

 

The kanyao variety – which is the most expensive in the world – attracted bids from dozens of wealthy fruit lovers at the event in Nonthaburi, central Thailand recently.

 

Officials had handpicked the durian just a day before from a nearby farm where the minimum price of the fruit is 20,000 baht.

 

But the luxury durian – chosen for its perfect size, shape, and ripeness – smashed the previous year’s record of 800,000 baht when it was put up for sale at the King Of Durian 2019 festival.

 

The glamorous event – which saw models parade the fruit on red and gold velvet pillows – included nine durians. They were the Monthong, Kanyao, and Kop Med Tao species with each one fetching more than 300,000 baht.

 

Owner Maliwan Han Chai Thai, who runs the Pa Toi Lung Mu farm where the 1.5 million baht durian was grown, said: ''I knew this was a very special durian but I was amazed at how much it sold for. I was expecting one million baht, so for it to sell more is very good.

 

''I hope the high bidder enjoys eating the durian. This variety is the tastiest in the world and we will keep growing them.''

 

The kanyao durian, the most expensive and sought after variety of durian in the world, was sold to a wealthy local businessman.

 

Total proceeds of 4.5 million baht from the auction will be passed back to the farmers with a slice also being donated to local charities for buying medical equipment for hospitals.

 

The kanyao durian – which is specific to the Nonthaburi region some 40 miles north of Bangkok – is considered to be the best in the world thanks to its sweet taste and creamy texture.

 

Kanyao durian was virtually wiped out following a mass flood several years ago but the farm is one of the only places to have cultivated them again.

 

Whole durians usually sell in Thailand for around 500 baht – or even more expensive in the west – depending on their weight, but at the farm, prices start at 20,000 baht for one.

 

Durian fruit is one of the most popular and expensive delicacies in Asia.
 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-08

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This entire money-making circus around a simple fruit is obscene. Models parading the spiky things around town on velvet pillows? Get a grip.

I like durian a lot.

But not buy the fruit now as the price at the local market has spiked rediculousy high this year.

(It feels like the price has doubled from last year.)

Edited June 8, 20197 yr by Khunangkaro

Didn't the Tulip almost become currency it was so valuable at one time in Europe?

14 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Didn't the Tulip almost become currency it was so valuable at one time in Europe?

Just did a search and it seems the bulbs were traded as futures until the bubble burst.

17th century????

Edited June 8, 20197 yr by overherebc

 

single durian sells for Us$48,000...!WHY?

 
single durian sells for Us$48,000...!WHY?

It was a fund raising event.


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34 minutes ago, luk AJ said:

It was a fund raising event.


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only a 'slice' of it according to the article, a portion of funds to go to a hospital, imo it just goes to show you can't buy intelligence..

47 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

single durian sells for Us$48,000...!WHY?

 

It contained several kg of meth.

1 hour ago, Pique Dard said:

 

single durian sells for Us$48,000...!WHY?

Why? - Simple! - There are people in this world with more money than sense!  They pay these prices at auctions so other people might think they are important when - in reality - they are nothing but the tallest <deleted> in a crowd of <deleted>!
A classic case of "Look at me! - Look at meee!!!!" b@#sh*t

Edited June 8, 20197 yr by Lenny Jones
Spelling

8 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

This entire money-making circus around a simple fruit is obscene. Models parading the spiky things around town on velvet pillows? Get a grip.

No more strange that bog snorkelling or welly wanging in the UK ????

I love durian, but this is a joke

Quote

Total proceeds of 4.5 million baht from the auction will be passed back to the farmers with a slice also being donated to local charities for buying medical equipment for hospitals.

Sounds like a publicity stunt. I mean don't you want to eat some durian now, don't you?

 

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

which saw models parade the fruit on red and gold velvet pillows

and then i woke up...

15 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

 

i just spent 15 minutes watching this girl.

I love most fruits, but to me durian has a foul taste. To each their own.

10 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

This entire money-making circus around a simple fruit is obscene. Models parading the spiky things around town on velvet pillows? Get a grip.

What about Tuna fish in Japan then? Or beaujolais primeur? I guess the buyer got what he paid for.

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

It contained several kg of meth.

It must have been spiked; pun very much intended.

what's there not to love? It''s a smart event that gives back to the community while promoting a favorite commodity. 

It's about the the smell and taste, i can eat and drink just about anything in this country and most of it is really good stuff, but for the life of me Durian never grabbed my fancy, it reminiscing the odor of a well used pair of penties of one of my ex...

Nasty stuff...Durian...wouldn't give 4 baht for one. Tastes as bad as it smells. ????

23 hours ago, luk AJ said:

It was a fund raising event.


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The grower had fun raising it too, laughing all the way to the bank.

Oof.

No matter how much he paid for it he can't bring it in his hotel room.