Ellie:
>Thank you so much. Are you saying that I should avoid Asian shops that=20
>sell young coconuts or that they are O.K. if it's not from Thailand. I=20
>have been buying durian in Chinatown that comes from Thailand. They also=20
>have some that comes from Malaysia. The Thailand durian are sweeter and=20
>more expensive. Do you think they have been tampered with?

Yes in almost all cases. They treat the shell with some chemical preventing
drying out. You know, durians loose lots of weight as water vaporizes. And
you pay per pound not per piece. So the dealer is interested in keeping the
water.
Also the durian trees are watered and chemical fertilizers are used.
Coconuts of Thailand get sugar injections as I mentioned.
You may try Malaysia. I don't know if its better. I know, that Vietnam
is much better, indeed it mostly reaches instincto-quality! There is nearly
no commercial agriculture in Vietnam. Try their mangos, cempedaks,
jackfruits and (starting in June) their wild durians. You will enjoy wild
durians 10 times more than overbreeded Morn Thong from Thailand. Not much
to eat from one fruit but incredible satisfying. Also young coconuts from
Vietnam are great, sapotillas and milk-apples (may have another name in
english).

Hope you have luck with the shops in Chinatown. By the way: is it china-
town of San Francisco?

Raw instinctive greetings,

Stefan