Last updated on 14 July 2025.
SEASON
Johor: July to End-September. SG Daily Arrival 12 PM and 4 PM.
Johor Red Prawn: ? to Mid-June.
Pahang: Mid-June to End-September. SG Daily Arrival 3 PM and 6 PM.
Pahang Tupai King: Mid-June to End-August.
Quantity / Quality Factors: Unfavourable weather conditions, with either too much or too little rain, can affect the durian taste. Heavy rains and flooding can affect the yield.
VARIETIES
Black Pearl / Tai Yuan: Oval with thin thorns, with pale greyish yellow flesh and small, pearl-like seeds. Tastes creamy with slight bitterness and milky aftertaste.
Black Thorn: Elongated yellowish husk with blackish thorn tips. Burnt orange flesh is thick and smooth, with a floral sweetness.
Golden Phoenix: Round with light green to greyish thorns, with a cluster of small thorns at the bottom. Pale yellow flesh has a floral fragrance and bittersweet taste. (S$17–19 per kg).
Green Bamboo / Tekka: Elongated husk with thin thorns and brownish yellow flesh. Taste shifts between bitter and sweet, with a bitter aftertaste. Has a metallic undertone. (S$17–19 per kg).
Mao Shan Wang (MSW) / Musang King: Light green with thick and short thorns, distinguished by a star-shaped pattern at the bottom with a bald patch. Buttery yellow flesh is creamy and fibreless, with a bittersweet ending. Some varient names include Black Gold (some bruising), King of Kings, Old Tree (more fermented). (S$19–21 per kg).
Red Prawn / Ang Hae: Johor farms, Penang breed. Elongated with sharp, thick, and short thorns. Flesh is custardy and smooth, with a good balance of sweetness and bitterness. (S$17–19 per kg).
Hajah Hasmah:
D9:
D13: Johor farms, Common Kampung breed. Elongated with thick and short thorns. Not to be confused with Red Prawn. (S$11 per kg).
D24 / Sultan: Previously named for its royal standing.
D88:
MDUR 88 / Mardi Super 88 / D190: Hybrid of D10 and D24. Golden yellow, slightly sticky and creamy flesh with a flavour comparable to Musang King.
D226 / Tupai King (Squirrel King): Named due to the squirrel’s fondness of the fruit. Slim, oval shape. Opened from the top. Slightly greenish, blue-black, rich, creamy flesh layered with deep bittersweet flavours, nutty undertones and subtle fermented notes, and strong alcoholic aftertaste. More bitter and less sweet than Musang King. Almost non-existent in Singapore. (2025: RM130 or S$39 per kg).
IOI:
Tawa: Oblong with large thorns, with a characteristic depression at the bottom. Milky yellow flesh is fibreless and bittersweet, while wetter ones are more bitter.
DURAIN TEST
- Choose a durian in the 1.7 to 2.2 kg range, as larger-sized ones tend to be overripe.
- Perform the stem test — A green stem means freshness.
- Then look for signs of spoilage, such as a deep horizontal crack.
- Shake the durian gently to assess its sound — A loud knocking suggests the flesh is overripe, a gentler sound indicates ripeness and no sound at all signals that it is unripe.
- Finally, use your sense of smell. A ripe durian will have a strong — some say pleasant — aroma; an unripe one will have little to no smell.
WHERE TO BUY
Ah Seng Durian: Ghim Moh.
Good Durian: Ang Mo Kio. Sells only Pahang Musang King durians. (S$22 per kg).
Melvin’s Durian: Upper Aljunied Lane. Sells Tupai King durians.
MALAYSIA DURIAN SITES
SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Address: SS 2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Description: City center has many durian stalls, offering a wide variety of durians at varying prices.
Day Trip: 30 min drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Description: City center has many durian stalls, offering a wide variety of durians at varying prices.
Day Trip: 30 min drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Cap Tupai, Penang
Address: Durian Cap Tupai Relau, 5.342343,100.273767, Relau, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Description: Mr Chew Chee Wan is the first cultivator and registar of Tupai King, which is very rare with only 1,000 produced annually. He sells Tupai King at his shop, Cap Tupai.
Day Trip: 30 min drive from Georgetown, 4.5 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Raub, Pahang
Address: Raub, Pahang
Address: Raub, Pahang
Description: Known as Durian Capital of Malaysia. Season is from June to August.
Day Trip: 5.5 hour drive from Singapore, 2.5 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
Day Trip: 5.5 hour drive from Singapore, 2.5 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
0 Comments