The King of Controversy – Guess who?

The king of fruit

Crowned as the “king of Fruit” by people in South East Asia, it is the exotically controversial fruit known as the “Durian”. As a first timer, you will either hate it or love it, but once you have tasted it, you will never forget it. Just like meeting a real king, meeting a durian will give you a memorable experience.

Durians have a notorious aroma likened to rotting meat, turpentine and gym socks. Not for the weak at heart…

Among all the fruits available in Malaysia, Durian is the most easily recognisable fruit in the market. Durians are round shaped fruit with a green thorny husk covering the delicious (or not) soft and creamy flesh within. (Warning: do not throw a durian at your friend. I mean it!). Durian also has a remarkable smell that is ecstasy for durian lovers and a nightmare for some people due to its strong pungent smell. Despite the strong smell and spiky husk, never judge a durian’s taste by its appearance!

Once you are in Malaysia, a durian-obsessive country, you do not have to look very far to find the durian as it can be found almost everywhere between the months of June to August. Take your purse/wallet and head out to the nearest stall to find the best durian that matches your soul.

Finding the right Durian!

Eating the right durian will give you a blissfully sweet and deliciously creamy flavour with a hint of bitterness to it. I know…….very hard to explain.

1. Top of the list – Musang King

Musang king is the all time favourite durian that has a thick creamy texture combined with sweetness and a little bit of bitterness. It is known to be one of the most expensive varieties among the other durian types that range approximately around RM45 to RM 60 per kg. If you are not on a budget and prefer an exotic choice go ahead and try the mouth watering Musang King! It is a rich golden colour and the wrinkles on the skin show that it is truly ripe for the eating.

2. Dining with D101

An alternative to the Musang king is the D101 orangey flesh durian which has a wonderfully sweet and creamy taste. If this is your first time and you want to experience a durian with a good fragrance and sweet flesh, try the D101 durian. It is an affordable unique fruit that will cost between RM25 to RM35 per kg.

3. A Prawn like Fruit – Udang Merah (Red Prawn Durian)

The flesh of a red prawn durian has a slightly red tinge and it has a  prawn like curved appearance. It is the perfect choice for someone with a sweet tooth as the Red Prawn durian gives a sweet after taste with a wonderful creamy texture. It usually ranges around RM35 to RM 50 per kg and can be found in some stalls.

4. Butter Durian

Known as Raja Kunyit durian by Malaysians, this durian uniquely consists of both sweet and bitter tasting flesh within the same fruit. This creamy and bright yellow flesh will offer you the best of both worlds on your tongue. If you are not much of a sweet tooth try the Butter Durian for around RM 22 to RM 30 per kg.

5. D24 Durian

Another widely available durian in Malaysia is the D24 durian. This durian is popular among Malaysians for its bitter sweet taste. D24 is also available in many grades that differ in their quality and price. Pick the one that best suits your taste buds and pocket! The price usually ranges between RM15 to RM 25 per kg.

We thought this video was ………..well………….interesting 😛