Durian and jackfruit (sometimes spelled jack fruit) get mixed up all the time. Both are big, green, tropical, and lumpy on the outside, so durian vs jackfruit, or jackfruit vs durian, is one of the most common tropical-fruit mix-ups there is. But they are not the same fruit, and not even close relatives. Here is how to tell one from the other.
No, durian and jackfruit are not the same and they are not related. Durian has hard, sharp thorns and a strong smell; jackfruit has soft, blunt bumps and a mild sweet scent. They come from two completely different plant families.
| Attribute | Durian | Jackfruit |
|---|---|---|
| Plant family | Malvaceae, the mallow family. Its relatives are cacao, okra, and hibiscus. | Moraceae, the fig and mulberry family. Its relatives are breadfruit and figs. |
| Skin and spikes | Hard, sharp, pyramid-shaped thorns. You cannot comfortably hold one bare-handed. | Soft, blunt, rubbery bumps. You can pick it up and hold it fine. |
| Size and weight | Usually 1 to 4 kg, about the size of a rugby ball or a bit larger. | Much bigger. Often 5 to 15 kg and sometimes over 30 kg, the largest fruit that grows on a tree. |
| Smell | Strong and hard to miss. Rich, oniony, and sulfurous, banned in some hotels and on some transit. | Mild and pleasant. Sweet and fruity, a bit like bubblegum or Juicy Fruit gum. |
| Taste | Rich and custard-like. Sweet but also savory, with a garlic-and-caramel depth. | Simply sweet and tropical, like a mix of banana, pineapple, and mango. |
| Texture | Soft, creamy, and dense, closer to custard or thick pudding. | Firm, chewy, and fibrous, more like a stringy mango or cooked meat. |
| Inside the fruit | A few large seeds, each wrapped in a thick lobe of creamy flesh. | Dozens of small yellow pods, each around a seed, packed tightly together. |
| How you eat it | Almost always fresh and ripe, eaten as-is like a dessert. | Ripe as sweet fruit, or unripe and cooked as a savory, meat-like ingredient. |
No. They look like they should be cousins, but they sit in two different plant families that split apart a very long time ago.
Durian is in the mallow family (Malvaceae), which makes it a distant relative of cacao, okra, and hibiscus. Jackfruit is in the fig and mulberry family (Moraceae), alongside breadfruit and figs. So a durian is closer to a chocolate pod than it is to a jackfruit.
The resemblance is a coincidence of shape. Both fruits evolved a big, bumpy, protective rind, but they are not the same kind of plant.
Not really. Jackfruit is straightforwardly sweet and tropical, tasting like a blend of banana, pineapple, and mango, with a firm, slightly chewy bite. Most people find it easy and pleasant on the first try.
Durian is richer and more complicated. It is sweet, but it also has a savory, custard-like depth that some people read as onion, garlic, or caramel. The texture is soft and creamy rather than fibrous. If jackfruit is a candy, durian is more like a dessert with a funky, savory edge.
No, and this is the fastest way to tell them apart. Durian has a powerful smell that fills a room and lingers, which is why it is banned in some hotels, airports, and on public transit in parts of Southeast Asia.
Jackfruit smells mild and sweet, a little like bubblegum. You would not ban a jackfruit from a hotel room. If the fruit in front of you has a strong, oniony, unmistakable smell, it is a durian.
No, jackfruit and durian are not the same thing. They are different fruits from different plant families. The quickest tells: durian has hard sharp thorns and a strong smell, while jackfruit has soft blunt bumps and a mild sweet scent.
No, durian and jackfruit are not related. Durian is in the mallow family (Malvaceae), related to cacao and okra. Jackfruit is in the fig and mulberry family (Moraceae), related to breadfruit and figs. They only look similar by coincidence.
Durian is smaller, covered in hard sharp thorns, smells strong, and tastes rich and creamy like a savory custard. Jackfruit is much larger, has soft blunt bumps, smells mildly sweet, and tastes like a firm blend of banana, pineapple, and mango.
No. Jackfruit is simply sweet and tropical with a chewy bite. Durian is creamy and custard-like, sweet but with a savory, oniony depth that jackfruit does not have.
No. Jackfruit has a mild, pleasant, sweet smell. Durian has a powerful smell that lingers and is banned in some hotels and on some transit. Smell is the easiest way to tell them apart.
No, and a durian is not a type of jackfruit either. Neither one is a type of the other. They are separate fruits from separate plant families that happen to share a big, bumpy shape.
Jackfruit. It is the largest fruit that grows on a tree, often 5 to 15 kg and sometimes over 30 kg. A durian is usually 1 to 4 kg.
The mild, creamy, beginner-friendly durian and the most common one you will see for sale.
A classic, stronger-flavored Thai durian if you want the full custard-and-onion experience.
The prized, expensive one, smooth and less pungent, worth trying once you know you like durian.