Which Is The Best Durian Stall & What's The Current Durian Prices

Why do I not include these in my post?  After all, a lot of consumers are price sensitive, wanting value for money durians.

Durian Stalls
If I had written specifically about a stall, I am promoting, thus bias in my opinion.  This isn't objective.  Benefits in kind, as in, free durian for the write up may result in some level of bias writing as I won't likely give very objective write ups.

Besides, even if I do not receive any benefits (including benefits in kind), there is another deterring factor.  If they know I am doing a write up for my blog, they will choose the best durian (even if it means rejecting 10 or 20 durians, just to get the best one) so I will write how good that durian is.

With that, it will affect the ingenuity of what the stall sells.  What I get to try, for a write up, won't likely be what consumers gets on average.  That is so wrong, I can't feature a stall.  Of course, I could remain anonymous, but that also means I may have to eat durians that doesn't suit my taste (awwww i can't be so benevolent)... 

Most Honest or Best Seller/Stall
Well, I read/heard such claims.  Some exclaimed 'THIS' or 'THAT' is the best stall, etc.  To each his own la.  Sometimes I can't even trust myself.

Some stalls are just lucky, right place right time.  Some goes through sheer hard work to build a name.  

Those that are plain lucky.  In 2015, the mid year durian season was the best in many years.  Anyone that opened a stall at that period, would end up being preferred by the consumers who patronised their stall, thinking they have very good durian.  Others, sometimes due to the incidental spot/stall they gotten at some point in time.  

Prices
People in the know, knows that cost changes regularly, as much as daily.  Those not in the know, well, now you know.  Cost really change fast.  It can plunge or escalate just in 1 day.  Weekend cost really do go up as demand is higher thus suppliers will charge the stores higher thus higher selling price.

In that case, how accurate are prices that people collate and disseminate?  I even heard consummer at a stall going (sometime back), "did't you publish $15/kg" (few weeks back)?  Why is it $20/kg now?" Gosh.... lesson 101, regular price movement la... if 2 weeks ago was peak, and 2 weeks later was post peak, where supply is reduced, how to maintain price?  I pity durian sellers sometimes.... 

Those who thinks, boycott........ Good for you... let me know when it's successful. 

Also, different stalls charges different prices due to other cost, other than cost of goods.  Rental, manpower, competition, these cost are not always known to some.

Oh, and.... let's say... the popular durian MSW, at 3 different prices.  There must be a reason, and I won't go for the cheaper one for sure.


Conclusion
I don't care about all these.  My friends and me may have some regular stalls we go to, but we will not divulge it for the above reason.  We are not very price sensitive, not that we can afford high price durians, but we understand several factors.  By large, we do not eat durian regularly like going for our liquor, but just when it's in season (twice a year).  


I still hear... durian contains a lot of pesticides (do you eat shells?) and durian has high cholesterol (don't confuse calories and cholesterol leh)... 
"Doctor... i need an appointment.... I'm poisoned, my arteries are clotted, I'm dying soon...." (fainted)

D194 - Gabai

Pardon me, this is the first time I was offered this variant and an online check doesn't yield any similar name, thus I am not too sure if this durian name is right.  I was told it is called Kapai (or Kap Tai, or what? Beats me).

As I was seated at the durian stall, watching the durian guys attending to customers, one of the durian seller asked me if I am keen to try a rare fruit, Kapai.  He just opened the fruit and sent to me, thus I couldn't take photo of a unopened fruit, but here's how it looks like when I combined both sides back together (as best as I could).

It was a mid sized durian, feels like it weighs in the region of 1.6-1.8kg (guess).  The shell is greenish with big and tough thorns and sharp pointed ends (blacken tip).  A very solid and healthy outlook generally.  Longish and regular shape, producing 5 good sides with fruit.

The inside looks welcoming.  The color of durian pulp is creamy, pale yellow (quite like D24 color).  It has regular size seeds, yet yields sufficient flesh that is thick and tends to feel a little dry enough to stick to the throat (don't swallow too quick or you may just get a hiccup).

It taste creamy, hint of milkiness but not vanilla like.  It has a mild subtle taste, which grows on me after 2nd seed.  There's a nice hint of bitter yet sweet on the tongue.  Smell starts to fill my nose with a nice linger.

What seems interesting is, the flesh can be peeled off the seed cleanly.  

Personally, it is worth trying, but it won't appeal to those who like strong tasting durian.

Would give it a 4/10 appeal to general consumers but I personally take it at 5-6/10 for the overall.

------------------------update-------------------

I spoke with Mr Soh, a durian farm owner recently, and was told, it should be D194 - Gabai.  As he shared, the flesh should be yellowish and bitter sweet.  

A quick search online, pointed to what he shared.

Taste wise, although milder, it seems to resonate with what I tried, plus the milkiness, but color wise, the one I tried seems to be pale.  Let's hope I get to try it again some other times.