Durian Season Dec 2017 - Johor Durians

My goodness.... am I going to get diabetics soon?  Didn't the government talked about the high diabetic rates here in Singapore, and am I one of those heading there soon?  Never mind, pee another day!

Over dinner with a friend, we just thought, let's go check out the durians (after having had good D13 on Saturday).  I need to be convinced it wasn't a coincidence that the durian I had on Saturday was good.  Or... ok never mind, excuses excuse.

So yes, we headed down to the durian shop to try D13.  Oh... we ended up with.... let me recall, 
-  2pcs D13
-  1pc XO
-  1pc Jing Feng
-  1pc MSW


D13?  Red Prawn?  Simi la!
My gawd!  D13 was awesome beyond imagination.  Ok I'm not that imaginative, but it was just the kind that is like Mike Tyson just swing his arm into my jaw, a durian-coma knock out punch that is!  How so.... 

This particular seller knows my taste and pampered me with what could be, the best D13 I had in memory (never mind I'm usually very forgetful).  A simple description, it was bruised orangy in color, which isn't common.  But I heard from the guy, that the plantation they gotten it from, is known for their D13, possibly the best farm for D13 in Johor.

When the first piece entered my mouth, I couldn't quite believe the explosion and complexity of flavor, texture, aroma!  It was, COMPLEX almost to that of a well written drama!  

It was creamy creamy, buttery buttery, somewhat a level of thickness fibrous texture, something that is never associated with D13.  Usually, it's on the softer and wetter side, but this particular one was just the opposite, that it doesn't just slipped off.  There's stickiness to this particular piece we had.

Taste wise, it was bitter sweet and again, creamy... plus the kum kum taste, and that it has that unique aroma that is closed to what I always loved, the fresh brew coffee effect.  It was really beyond me!  I'm convinced!!!  This season's D13 is so so so good, I ended up asking him to help me choose another 3, so I can bring it home, pulp and freeze it, to indulge at a later date!  

XO & Jing Feng
Following D13, we had a short rest (maybe 10 mins) before we opened this Jing Feng and XO which I had chosen from e last few available. 

We started with Jing Feng.  It was, the start of the JF season, so expect lesser.  It wasn't a small fruit (I usually like those weighing 1.0 - 1.2kg type) and weighs probably near 1.5kg (yea we didn't weigh it).  The taste was acceptable, not exceptional.  I'll wait few days before trying it again.

After a couple seeds of JF, I tried XO.  The color of XO was beigey and creamy, not the typical whiteness of a commonly seen XO.  I always like my XO to be beige than white.  The XO we had has this bitterness and a good level of aroma, with the lingering numbness on the tongue like how cognac gives.  A mild sweet after taste.  It's good given that it's e beginning of XO season.

And I must repeat, it's good enough, cos, after MSW which I had as my next fruit, didn't overwhelmed it when I returned to XO.  So this piece of XO should be worthy of a 7/10 (I couldn't give it an 8 since the aroma wasn't quite over the top).

Mao Shan Wang
It was a small fruit, weighing no more than 1.5kg from the looks.  We didn't expect much of this MSW.  It doesn't look that awesome visually.  However, the taste was good, good level of bitterness, a nice pleasant aroma near a good satisfaction level.  Overall, this MSW had left me rather impressed!  I would rate it 7 to 7.5.

(With this high quality D13 I had lately, it leaves me wanting to try D101 again this season. It should start coming in by end of the week.)

Durian Season 2017 - Johor Durian, Pahang (Raub / Krau)

On a fun trip up to Pahang (Raub and Krau) in in July and late August 2017 was fun.  In August especially, we made some friends in the trade, gotten to visit a durian plantation, understand a little further in the durian business.  

The trip isn't all durian.  We tried the most tasty fresh water fishes we ever had in our life maybe.  The fresh water fishes were not 'muddy' tasting like what we frequently associated fresh water fishes with.  The fishes were fresh, meat were tender and with no hint of 'mud' taste.  Cooking were awesome too.  

In Bukit Tinggi, there are a few rows of shophouses and I bet nearly 1/3 shops were seafood restaurants.  That's how popular their fresh water fishes are.  Oh wait.... this is about durian, not fishes.  How did I stray so far.... 

Back to durian.  The trees were fruiting (very tiny fruits, no larger than table tennis ball size) and flowering as well.  Almost every plantation we went pass, saw trees with a lot of flowers.  That's a really good sign that year end supply will be good (provided weather doesn't act up during the 'first trimester').

In mid September, on a trip up to Genting, I had went to Pahang Bt Tinggi for dinner one afternoon.  Along the way, we saw durian trees with flowers too.  Apparently, the flowering didn't stop from 2 weeks ago. On the way back to Singapore, going past Serembang, we saw some smaller plantations and they too, were flowering.

From these signs, the supply should start (those bearing small fruits in late Aug) in November, which is what we are getting currently.  Those flowering in late August till Mid September, should start dropping in December and I guess it will last into January, before supply reduces.

Back to Johor.
I understand just a week ago, the plantations are bearing a lot of fruits too.  It is expected to start falling come early December and odd to last through December.  The plantation owner and staffs are on about to get cracking soon.

However, this weekend and maybe next 1-2 weeks, we odd to see prices climb a bit, since the durians from first flowering odd to decline.  We will experience price drop come Mid December, I guess.  Enjoy it when it happens.  Stock up time.

Stupid Rumor Mongering

I'll be crude in my words in this post, doesn't matter if I upset some.  I'm not here to nanny sit people's ego.

----------------------------

I've received some completely unfound durian related rumor that is being spammed by an unknown IDIOT!  

Hoax news are always abound by ill hearted weakling who just wants to cause confusion and there are definitely people who will be taken in by false news.  It doesn't take much intelligence to tell some cheap and idiotic hoax as the contents are just too stupid!

Here's the one I received on Saturday and again today.

>> Received from someone. Not sure if it’s true...🙁

Seemed China rejected closed to more than 20 containers of musang king durians due to too high insecticide detected in the fruits. That is why the durians returned back to M’sia. Now selling @ cheap price .....  so eat @ your own discretion. 😬 <<

Attached photo that came with the message

To whoever is that DUMB IDIOT, he probably can't afford this exotic fruit, durian.  Stick to apples will you!

I'll debunk this!

Firstly, from the photo, these are THAILAND DURIANS and not Malaysia!  In Malaysia, durians are collected and placed into baskets within a mere couple of hours and transported out, all within short hours.

Those that are destined for China market, are packed into styroform boxes, with 4 durians in 1 box, sealed with clear masking tape and flew to China.  It is not send by containers, via sea.  NO!  That's already one hint of how stupid that hoax starter is!

Malaysia durians are naturally ripen, thus can't take the long time being send by sea. Thai durians, on the other hand, are semi-ripe when harvest. It turns with the aid of ripening agents thus can take longer periods of transit.

Next, pesticides are definitely used for durians.  But pesticides are costly.  Malaysia farmers spray pesticides once every 2 weeks on average.  By the time the durian falls, the pesticides on durian shell are already halved.  Pesticides are sprayed upwards.  Durians are not soak in pesticides or insecticides as claimed.  Stupid!

Lastly, if Malaysia durians are sent to China and returned to Malaysia, the durians would have over-ripen and if it is send to Singapore, it would have rot.  STUPID!  

Stupidity has no boundary and if we are to believe and continue spreading falsehood, we are not acting any smarter.  

Truth About Cheaper Durians

There are many price sensitive consumers here that hunt for cheap bargains.  So, the hoax are probably well targeted at some.

Why are durians cheaper now, than previous seasons this year?  In 2016, SE Asia were hit by El Nino and in 2017, we faced La Nina (talked about in a post sometime back so I won't elaborate further).  This caused a huge decline in durian production.

In late August 2017, I went up to Pahang with some friends, and saw a lot of tiny durians, and a lot of trees were flowering.  In September and October, weather was rather good!  So this season, yield will be high.

It doesn't take much to understand economics, Demand And Supply.  

Another reason why prices APPEARS cheaper at some stalls.  On average, the going prices for MSW right now (mid Nov) is between $15-20 per kilogram.  But there are some stalls selling at $10-12/kg.  WHY?  Not everyone knows how prices works.  I'll just shine some light into this.  

From the whole lot of durians delivered to the stall, the durian guys will sort out the durians by quality.  The best of the lot, will be priced higher, while the bulk will be priced in the common range.  The cheapest ones, be it $10 each, or $10-12/kg, are usually small sized MSW or odd shape ones, that has lesser sides.  

Next time you go to the durian stall, check out the price range and shape/size.  You will get what I mean.

Don't be taken in by hoax started by stupid people else we end up being victim of stupidity.

(yea yea, I'm usually light hearted and happy where it comes to writing about durian... but this time I'm all fired up with some coarse words, deliberately.  Some people just loves believing in whatever they read without giving it some thoughts)

23/11/2017 News

SINGAPORE: Durians in Singapore do not have excessive levels of pesticide and are safe to eat, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said, dispelling rumours that have been circulating on social media.

"Some durian lovers have come across rumours about high levels of 'insecticide' in Malaysia’s Musang King durians, and asked if it is safe to consume durians imported from Malaysia," AVA said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Nov 21).

...

Rumours that 20 containers of durians were rejected by China due to high insecticide levels and returned to Malaysia were spread online last week. The viral messages said that this was why the price of the fruit had fallen this season.

The New Straits Times called the messages "fake news" in an article on Saturday. Durian farmers told NST that the price of Musang King durians had dropped as there had been an "abundance of supply".

Source: CNA/hm

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Let's Go Panda! Tekka Time (some commercially calls it Green Bamboo)

Tekka (hokkien for bamboo 'leg') or some shops calls it fancy names like Green Bamboo... WHATEVER!

How many of you have tried this variant of durian?  I swear by it!  A good tekka always tame my durian desires.  

About 2 weeks ago, a durian seller messaged me, "Pahang Tekka has arrived!"  Immediately that night, I flew down to the store!  The last 2 weeks, I must have eaten this Tekka 5 times.

Among the many durians I've tried (here in Singapore), the one that always wow me over is Tekka follow by Jing Feng.  Yes there are other favorites but these 2 never failed to seduced me.

Tekka is a far over under rated durian that most consumers pass by, going for the all so predictable Mao Shan Wang (MSW).  What's e biggie about MSW?  The hills of Pahang are mostly filled with MSW, follow by D24, and a small percentage of other variants.  

Tekka isn't a popular durian plantation owners wants to plant.  My unproven guess is
-  Tekka's yield is lesser than MSW or D24, and 
-  Tekka is risky durian, as fruits doesn't always turned out awesome, it can be inconsistently ripen.   

With that, it is little wonder there ain't much Tekka.  

Durian sellers also doesn't like selling Tekka for a few reasons (guess again)
-  Quality is inconsistent (like mentioned above, inconsistent ripeness)
-  Cost quite high (likely in between D24 and MSW)
-  Yield is low, consumers thinks they are paying too much (ok that's great news for me)
-  Difficult to open

I've done a write up on Tekka before.  I'll just repeat but in summary.

Shell
It looks a little odd shape, instead of regular shape durians.  Thorns are bigger (like MSW) and tough looking.  Some may mistaken this as Thai durian.

Color of shell is usually on the brownish, soil like tone.  Sometimes a bit yellowish too.  It's seldom nicely green in color.  Not a pretty durian, it'll never win a Miss Durian Pageant. 

Inside
There's this rough acne looking crater in the center running from top to bottom, which we termed it 'liulian sim' (sim is hokkien for Heart).  This is a unique character of Tekka.


Flesh & Taste
The richer the color, the better it is.  Pale yellow tends to be dry and less strong tasting.  Deep yellow tends to be richer in taste and softer texture.

It's got a complexity unlike predictable durians (eg D13, D101, MSW, these are all so predictable).  There's a mild citrus taste, yet that odd hard to describe porn... i'm quite lost for words.

Most Tekka are sweet with a nice hint of bitterness.  Level of bitterness is quite low, Probably 3/10 at most.  

Conclusion
This durian has never failed to impress my friends whom I introduced it to.  Several friends are hooked.  All I need to do, to lure them for durian is, telling them I'm going for Tekka.

Are you a durian lover?  If you are, you won't be so staunch about eating just 1 type, typically MSW.  How often have I not come across Singaporean durian consumers, who claims to be a durian lover, that sticks to MSW only.  That's just MSW lover, not durian lover.  Don't get confused!  Your lost is my gain!


Move aside Mao Shan Wang, you are never good enough!  

------------------ update 5 Dec 2017 ------------------ 

Last I ate this was on 1 Dec 2017.  Quality has diminished.  I suspect the first flowering in Pahang is ending thus supply is lower and quality isn't as optimal.  I'll wait for 2nd flowering's harvest, which should start from Mid December. 

Johor's Tekka isn't available yet.  Will update accordingly.

(Panda is on diet)

Under-rated D17 (or sometimes called S17)

I was happily tucking into some other varient, when the durian seller pushed this for me to try.  It was the only piece that came along with the whole bulk of delivery that day.

This durian varient has been seen these recent few years (before that, it was lesser known) but I had not really taken a keen interest, since most of the time, it's mainly bitter.

Since it was pushed to me, I had to try it again, to awaken my taste bud.

Visual

The shape is quite regular, nothing unusual and the color of the shell is yellowish green.  It looks a bit more like an ordinary durian.

TypicallyThe durian isn't too large.  Averagely, I would presume it to weigh in the region of 1.2 - 1.5kg.  I won't go for large one if any.

Texture, Taste, Aroma (Flesh)

The texture is soft, and some would relate it to being watery.  Color of the flesh is off white or beige, somehow, quite near XO and D24.  .

Most of the time, it's associated as a bitter durian.  If you are lucky, a good one has a good aroma.  Don't let it slip down your throat too fast else you may just miss out the aroma.

Personally

I am a bigger fan of some other durians thus only take this once in awhile.  However, the one I took recently had left me a pleasant lingering desire to have another one.
In my perception.... 5/10.

I heard there are shops passing of D17 as Lao Tai Po (Old Lady).  Trust me, if you have eaten a real Lao Tai Po, D17 would end up being cast aside. It's comparing a $10 cooking wine against MOET.

----- EDIT 9 July 2018 -----

I need to tuck my head into e hole and hide.... I've just tried a great D17!!!  I'm pawned!  

I was given this 1 and only D17 in my recent feast.  I wasn't so keen since my last memory was just average.  However, this time, my jaws dropped.  After my first bite, I was going a little cranky, telling my friend, who loves XO durian... "YOU GOTTA TRY THIS!!!  It's got the bitterness, the mild biting of XO yet the aroma of a D24 or the likes".  Darn... why is that the one and only?  Now I'm dreaming of more D17.

Although it was on the wetter side, which some absolutely shun, I love it to bits.  There's creaminess in it, a nice flora linger, mild citrus effect.... vanilla ice cream.

Durian Season 2017 - Year End Durianergy

Sometimes, we just need soul food to perk us up don't we?  Sometimes we get too cope up with life's fast pace, or the stress level, that leaves us craving for certain food.  Being rather sweet tooth, I used to crave for desserts whenever stress level is on the high.  Last few years, I've cut that down.... but... with the year end's season just started, I found haven in durians!

The Pahang durian started flowing in towards late October and the good news is, prices have started coming down.  Why the contrasting difference between July/Aug 2017 and now?

If we look back to 2016 till mid year 2017 seasons, we were daunted by the extreme weather phenomenon, 2016 being El Nino and 2017 being La Nina.  Last year, the quality of durian were unimpressive and supply were not that high.  2016 year end season (into early 2017) saw a much smaller supply than mid 2016, and quality were dwindling.

Mid year 2017, up to about August 2017, supply were almost like, the all time low in recent decade.  Prices scored to never seen before price and consumers were almost crying foul.  Flowering for mid year season were badly affected by La Nina, with the stronger wind and rainfall during flowering season.

To our relief, the next flowering took place around August and weather were much more forgiving, thus most matured and are now ready to drop.

This year end season, the supply is expected to be higher than mid year, and it is expected Johor and Pahang durians may 'crash' for a short period soon.  This brings good news to us consumers.  Prices may touch $15/kg for Mao Shan Wang, but I won't complaint so long as we see a healthy $18/kg or better.

Here's the evidence of crime...

4 Nov 17 - Small Mao Shan Wang.  Quality was on the drier side, taste wasn't deep enough but it's the first kill of the season so it still satisfied me a little for that night.  I'll rate this 5/10.

5 Nov 2017 - Medium size Mao Shan Wang.  This one was a little soft, not the type everyone would love but I don't go for texture alone but how it taste.  To me, the riper it is, the more depth it gives.  I was significantly satisfied with this.  Perhaps it was about 7/10.

7 Nov 2017 - Another great MSW that's about 7/10.  I expect quality to start improving soon. 

I'm going to feast on other variant of durians as supplies increase.  On 7 Nov 2017, seller told me the D24 quality isn't optimal thus I held back.  I did try XO on 4 Nov and 5 Nov and was rather pleased but since I didn't take any photo, I can't share much about it.

--------13 Nov 2017 session--------

Our trip to the durian stall, was to indulge in Tekka.  Tekka season usually doesn't last long since not many plantations plants it.  This lot came from Pahang, thus I got to try it.  I'm usually eating Johor's Tekka.

This piece we had were awesome.  The taste was captivating and it's not overly sweet, and a mixture of bitterness.  The intense color is what I've always yearn for in a good Tekka.

When I arrived, as the seller was picking the above Tekka for me, I picked this D24 from the lot and took a sniff.  It was calling out to me, I can't let it past.  Without a doubt, it was worthy. 

--------11 Dec 2017 session--------

The last 10 days or so, durian quality and quantity has declined.  Just about 10 days back, we tried Tekka again and must say, the quality was not up to mark.  MSW wasn't that worthy either.

On 5 Dec, we tried some MSW, and..... I can't describe.  It's just disaster.  It was noticeable as that was possibly the 2nd time I just stopped eating without even wanting to avoid wastage.  It's really, wasted calories and it's just hard to take another seed.  I felt utterly disappointed.

Came weekend, 9 Dec, I had a friend from overseas, which I brought to try out durian.  We feasted on D24 and D13, and were also treated D2 and Ganghai (compliments).  

D13 are flavorful and very tasty.  It's sweet and bitter (not bitter sweet, as the sweetness is stronger than bitter, about 6/4), yet the flavour of D13 were distinctively delicious.  It awoken my taste desires once again after the huge disappointment on 5 Dec.  I won't go on to describe the other 3 variants since D13 knocked me off.

I was told, durian varieties will start to increase this week.  

This new batch of durian are mostly from Johor.  The Pahang supplies have dwindled as the 1st flowering has quite much ended.  2nd flowering should start in 2nd half of December 2017 and we are likely to see it last till late Jan or into Feb 2018 (just my guess).  The 'crash' between Johor and Pahang supplies may be short lived, probably 1-2 weeks.

Future Of Malaysia Durian

In recent years, durian supply were inconsistent.  

In 2015, consumers benefited from bumper harvest, which saw prices plummet while the quality was also at it's best.  That year, any variant of durian all taste awesome regardless. 

In 2016, the El Nino effect caused a huge decline in durian supply.  Quality were not as impressive, and prices hold firm.  The rumour was, huge supply of durians were exported to China.  The good ones were singled out by plantations, packed into styroform boxes and sent to China as the prices are higher there.  

In the past, before the Chinese market opened up, during huge harvest, durians were dumped into Singapore, as the most convenient market.  Now that the Chinese market has opened, they still dump, the inferior ones, to Singapore.

Now, in 2017, the La Nina effect caused a further decline in supply as flowers and tiny durian fruits were all brought down by the prolonged, and sometimes heavy rain.  The depression of supply, coupled with the chinese market (although this year, exports to China may not be as much as in 2016), prices sky rocketed!  Prices we never seen before!  MSW used to bottom out at as low as $10/kg (B grade) or about $15/kg average (A grade).  This year, A grade MSW were hovering between $25-35/kg at most stalls.

What next?


A Recent Trip To Pahang
In July and (1-3) Sept 2017, I was invited by my friend, Dr Roy, to join him on a trip up to Pahang (Bentong, Raub, Klau) for a durian trip.  These 2 trips were quite an eye opener.  We saw the hilly slopes all over Pahang, filled with durian trees.  Almost every corner you looked, you see durian trees.  Almost every estate we drove by, we saw scattered few trees too.

The plantations in Pahang, are mostly growing Mao Shan Wang (MSW, aka Cat Mountain King or King of Cat Mountain) and D24 variant of durians.  

There are some plantations that explored into developing a small part of their plantation into resort stay.  Bearing in mind, most part of Pahang are easily 1,000 feet above sea level, a lot of greens, the air and temperature there are welcoming.  These resort stays will gain popularity in time to come.

We were also privilege to visit a plantation in Klau and met a few durian plantation owners/operators.  Through the dialogue, we understand the exponential market in China.  The volume they are able to absorb, is so huge, that even suppliers dare not commit.  There are different demands and market, different ways of storing and exporting durians.

It was a good trip (1-3 Sept 2017).  We made new friends, enjoyed good durians, ate great food (and if you do visit Bentong/Raub, do try the freshwater fishes at restaurants.  I'm hooked).


Brief Recent History
In the mid 90s, we saw an over supply of durian.  Prices plummet to as low as $1.20/kg for D24 (MSW wasn't available in Singapore then).  The depressed price caused losses to plantation owners.  Many plantations ended up chopping down their trees and switching to oil palm.  Supply and prices of durian start to 'recover and stabilized' in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The China and HK demand became known sometime in the early 2010.  Selling prices there is about S$100-$120/kg and order list were established even before durians were imported into those markets.  MSW durians were not sold in shops.

New preservation methods (simply using temperature to control further ripening) had opened up markets further.


Future Of Durian 
The new concern Singapore and Malaysia consumers will be bothered about, is the supply and prices.  The surge in prices this year and many realising the huge Chinese market, are raising concerns on the future supplies and prices.  

Looking at the swats of agriculture land used to plant durian trees, the trees looks rather young, many are hovering between the height of 15-30 feet.  These trees may not produce huge harvest in the coming years but I guess, it will start to mature in the coming 3-5 years.

In approximately 5 years, we should see supply increase tremendously (subjected to weather too).  I do believe supply can meet the new demand from China market, although I doubt it will bring prices down to what we experience years ago.  

Will we see another over supply situation like in the mid 90s?  Chances are slim.  Well, unless ground sentiments of the Chinese (like how they boycott Japan and South Korea from time to time) strikes between them and Malaysia.  

However, due to the huge swats of land being used to cultivate durians, we should see price equilibrium around the $18-20/kg region during the peak.

--------------------

Above is just my novice observations and opinion.

Comparing MSW

I can't exactly say the taste test is conclusive in the kind of MSW supplies at different stalls but we did a taste test if 3 durian stalls.

MSW were purchased from 3 different stalls, 1 is a new stall, the other 2 were well established stalls. Price differs were pronounced. I shall not name the stalls nor prices to be fair.

Stall 1. New stall.
Price is general as most other stalls around the island. We reserved 2 from this stall. I did a further screening to pick what I thought would be better. But I am not an expert in choosing thus it would be unfair to them to say theirs are of a certain standard.

However, the MSW is average. As much as I think it would be likewise for many stalls.

Stall 2. Established stall.
Price is steep. About 40% higher than 1st stall. Quality is much better yet lacking the 'punch I look for in MSW.

Given the much higher Price, the standard is expected to be vastly better. Well, it was.

Stall 3. Established stall with good reputation.
Price is 50% higher than 1st stall and quality beats all. Maybe the boss knows we are doing a comparison so he picked the best in his opinion. We were all in awe.

The 2 were dry yet sticky and nice bitterness and mildly sweet.

The boss further opened another 2 to treat us, each having a different character, with 1 having a flora and smoked woody scent and another having a kind of spiciness bite (mildly acidic or burning sensation) in the sides of my tongue, the kind of MSW I seek.

This stall will gladly replace or not giving it to customers if it doesn't meet the customer's standard.

For the price they charge, its worth it.

Below photos are not in any sequence and no pinpointing which durian were purchased from which stall. 

Given the high cost and selling Price, we will not be able to indulge as much as we did last year or before.

Durian Season 2017 - August

This year's durian seasons are all screwed up, terribly. The La Nina effect robbed us of our beloved fruit and disrupted supplies, resulting in historically high price.

Just 2 weeks ago, Singaporeans favourite variant, Mao Shan Wang 猫山王 (mountain cat) was going at S$35/kg or higher. What??? Some goes in disbelieve. That's like more expensive than gold.

Yes, that is a real situation that happened. Even at the source supply area, Bentong and Raub (in Pahang, Malaysia), it was selling at RM110/kg, if not more. Even if you are willing to pay, you may not be able to buy it.

Some may ask, "What's the weather relationship with durians?"

During flowering and early fruitation, its lije first trimester (no offense to ladies. Just trying to find a word to describe the dedicate stage). The flowers and young fruit are vulnerable to strong wind, heavy rain, extreme weather's, etc.

La Nina resulted in heavy rainfall, which is uncommon between late April to even November. However, we have been getting heavy and days of rain from April till now.

A recent trip up north.
On 23 July 2017, I followed Dr Roy, on a trip up Pahang (Bentong and Raub) in searched for the prized fruit. We Only chanced upon a few stalls with very limited durian supplies on sale.

Of the types we ate, includes D24, MSW and some 'kampung durians. Honestly, taste test, we were not impressed. Not that we are fussy, but the durians didn't make the mark. It's like cheap wine. But when cravings are strong and we turned beggars, beggars can't be choosers. So we were sorely defeated. Next trip coming up soon.

Bentong Pahang durian

On 29 July 2017 weekend, I made a trip to Melaka. I know where the durians are sold so that's like the best bet for my fixation.

In Melaka, I managed to sink my fangs into 'Kampung' durians, Red Prawns, MSW and something else I can't recall. Prices on this trip were slightly softer, at RM95/kg for MSW and RM45/kg for Red Prawn.

Melaka Durian Trip

The Season Starts
We were informed durian season should start in Mid Auguest 2017. Of course don't expect the bumper supply like in 2015. It will only increase from the current sorry state and prices will come down.

The current price, as of 3 August 2017, started coming down to $29/kg, And lowest I heard was $26/kg. I'm not on a durian hunt in Singapore thus I won't be aptly updated.

The guess is, 2nd half of August 2017, I forecast (MSW) price to drop to as low as around $20-22/kg. It may go a bit lower but I don't expect $15/kg. A fair lowest price should be about $20/kg. But don't hold me to it. It's just a guess. If I'm right, you buy me durian ok.

---------- edit 9 Aug 2017 ----------
Saw MSW on sale at $20/kg today. Prices came down faster than expected.  In this case, it is likely going to drop to $16-18/kg by end of the month.
---------- edit end ----------

In my recent trips, be it Pahang and Muar/Pasir, I don't see flowering on the trees near the road. So I guess the next season won't start in November (maybe scattered flowers) but likely in December.

Let me throw open another wild guess. Should the weather revert back to the norm, we should see a good supply in 2018 since trees didn't get to produce much in 2016 and 2017. These trees are pump up but didn't get to produce. Just a real wild one here.

(Disclaimer. Don't be deceived by photos. These durians were actual fruit and color but it's how I capture photos that makes it.looks better than it really is.)