Mao Shan Wang MSW - The Sequel to Name Sells (Different Variant?)

Just yesterday, I was out for my lunch, when I noticed that durian prices have 'soften' and became very appealing to consumers.  There were heaps of different variants of durians from Johor for sale there.

After the quick stroll through the heaps and settling down at the coffeeshop next to the make shift stall, I noticed seemingly some happy customers leaving the durian stall with bags of comfortable priced durians.

However, when I look upwards to the tentage, I couldn't help but noticed this banner.  

It is quite a common sight to see "Black Gold" and Pahang MSW, among other FANCIFUL names.  So, based on the banner above, how different are they?

I'm sure many consumers have heard/seen the following too

-  Highland MSW

-  Old Tree MSW

-  Highland Old Tree MSW

-  and recent years, Black Gold MSW and 

-  Tai Shang Wang

-  Wang Zhong Wang

I'm not saying there are no such durian (or if everything is real), but, hey, what's the authenticity of these 'variants'?  Many consumers are very unaware!  It's fine paying more for what you deem you are getting, or should I generally say, pay the price you are willing to pay for what you gotten.  Authenticity isn't relevant ya??

Let me share a bit of Insider info.  If every consumer is aware of this, and durian sellers sees this post.... well.... i leave it as that.

Before revealing further, let me refresh 1 variant that has largely been forgotten... Wang Zhong Wang!  Hey, isn't that a variant that sellers claims????  WHAT?  EXTINCTION together with the dinosaurs?  Oh no... why didn't Xiao Qiang (nick name for cockroach, in case foreign readers wonder what that is) didn't go extinct? 

Now, let is go through the different 'Variants'/names in a sellers gonna hate me fashion.

The 'Extinct' Wang Zhong Wang (WZW)

In reality, WZW is NOT a variant on its own!  It is just the better of the lot!  Get it?  Years ago, sellers single out a few pieces from that day's supply and grouped it as WZW!  

Is it wrong?  Well, it's fine with me actually.  After all, it was usually the better of the whole day's supply and many consumers don't mind paying a few extra dollars per kilogram for it.

So, any variant of durian, can actually be categorized as WZW.  It isn't really wrong in my opinion.

The Different Types of MSW

Before going into it.  MSW was first discovered in the 80s, which is nearly 40 years ago.  It was discovered in Kelantan, and a branch was grafted onto a durian tree in Pahang.  That's the origin of MSW.  

Referring to the list of names above, I'll group these (Highland, Old Tree, Highland Old Tree) together, as it is all MSW that consumers are accustomed with.

How wrong is it to term, Pahang's durian (even if it is just kampung durian from Pahang) as HIGHLAND?  Many parts of Pahang are actually highlands, especially the durian growing region.

Highland Old Tree is just another jargon.

Old tree.  HOW OLD are these trees, before they are categorized as Old Tree?  Oh ya... we don't relate to age as YOUNG do we?  So, a ONE year old child is still called 'old'.

But if people knows better, most trees are actually very young.  Most MSW are grafted from another grafted MSW 'tree'.  So do we take the age from the 

-  grafted branch as it's age, or 

-  the original tree that it was grafted onto, or

-  since MSW came from a tree discovered in the 1980s?  

Whichever, it can't be considered old even if the tree is maybe 20+ years old right?  I'm senile, forgotten, I just mentioned One Year Old is also called Old.

Oh how about Genting Highland Old Tree

Some frequent visitors to Genting Highland would have encounter durian stalls near the foot hill.  Among the most popular durian variant that consumers loved would be MSW.

So, that's how Genting Highland Old Tree MSW came about.  Genting, I am not sure if there is even a single MSW tree there. Maybe someday, someone is going to start claiming Cameroon Highland or Fraser Hill once the novelty of the current range of names gets stale.

What about Black Gold and Tai Shang Wang

Black Gold MSW was a term coined in recent years and from my unfounded understanding (I'm just BSing here)... as told by sellers too actually.... Black Gold MSW are MSW with the 'black' bruised hue instead of the evenly yellow MSW.  Generally, they just made it seems like e premium range la.

Wang Zhong Wang disappeared so suddenly, and well... Black Gold sounds really nice.

(remember to keep your poop, cos it's worth in gold)

Tai Shang Wang

Going back in history (goodness... i am either sounding old, or a historian wannabe but can't be), the term Tai Shang Wang (or Huang) is an honorific and institution of retired emperorship (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taishang_Huang)

So, is Tai Shang Wang/Huang, a retired MSW?  Or just a honorific name that is merely just... MSW?

Differentiating MSW

Among the many names above, are they really so different, or just a name?

I've helped out at certain durian stalls before, for fun, or because I was invited to help.  It's not exactly for the money, cos it doesn't measure up.

So, from what I know (up to you to believe me).  MSW arrived based on Grade A, Grade B and Grade C!  It doesn't arrive as Black Gold, Tai Shang Wang, Highland, Old Tree, or any other fancy names!!!  PERIOD!

The 'variants' segregation are... done at/by the stall.  

So it is up to you to believe what you were sold, or know where these 'variants' came from.... 1 random seller told me years ago, I don't know how to eat durian.  I only told him, "yes, I don't know how to eat durian, but he knows how to sell, so sell it to gullible buyers".  

Spare me his crap.  When I started eating durian, he was still swimming in some sack (gosh, I'm so uncouth here).

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Disclaimer : This insider may upset some sellers... or make some consumers rethink what they are being sold.  

So, who is telling the truth?  This senile blogger or your durian seller?

I'm not sorry... it was intentional!  

Buying Pre-Packed Durian (Styroform Box)

If you are buying from box, what makes the same durian variety, one more expensive from another (if the quantity looks similar)?  Surely, if the same variety, same quantity, but different price, indicates something.  It is the quality!  Try buying the cheapest and the most expensive of the lot and you will get what I mean.

Now, how do you choose, among the same price/quantity?  

Look at the color, look for those DARKER color (eg, strong yellow for the 'MSW' and strong/darker orange for the 'D13/Red Prawns').  Darker/deeper color tends to taste stronger as compared to the milder colored ones. 

Making it easier to understand.  Look at water melon.  The redder it is, the sweeter it will be.  A pale red water melon tends to taste less juicy, less sweet, less tasty.  Agree?

Colors of certain durian variety may indicate the sweetness or bitterness.  Take Mao San Wang (MSW) for example.  A darker and glossier color tends to be bitter, while lighter color with more shiny look tends to be sweet.  Pale color tends to be blend.

The color also implies the state of ripeness.  A semi-ripe or unevenly ripe durian tends to look patchy in color (some pale spots among the more even colored flesh).

So, going by price, the cheaper ones will be pale colored while the more expensive ones are stronger color.

Choosing A Durian (Malaysia Durian)

Visual
Well, just find one that looks good, ie without potential rotten spots (brown rotting patch), without insect infestation holes (usually worm holes), etc.

Some will say, look at the stem/stalk as well.  I can agree that those nice fresh looking stem/stalk indicates a fresh durian (Day 1).

Shape
Personally, I prefer odd shape durians.  Odd shape durians may not come with as many sides, and each sides, lesser seeds.

I like to describe the quantity as to having the number of childrens.  If you can provide the best upbringing to 2 childrens, you end up only being able to provide half the quality if you have double of that.

More seeds may result in thinner flesh, less tasty flesh, or even less thick (maybe even, watery) flesh.

Smell
AVOID WHITE SPOTS!  Wow, why am I sounding loud here?

White spots are potential residues of pesticides.  You don't want to sniff in pesticides and expose yourself to risk of health problems.

Do not take strong sniff either.  Malaysia durians falls onto the ground when ripe.  A lot of dust or soil dust are on the shells and you do not want to inhale that either.


If the durian smells decently pungent, that's the one!  If it smells too strong, it may be over riped.  If there is no smell, well, it could still be ripe, but taste wise may not be as pleasing.

Knock
Durian sellers used the side of their knife to knock.  (Any durian home?)

Ok, what are they hearing?  The density of sound indicates the ripeness.  A hollow sound indicates ripe durian while a harder sound indicates unripe or 'not as ripe' durian.

You can also knock using your finger nails.  Durian sellers won't allow you to touch their knifes.  Never try touching it, they will get very annoyed.  Don't want to end up being scolded ya.
(i throw my durian at yewwwwww)

Shaking 
Hmmmm I have seen some people shaking the durian as if they are going into a trance.  Goodness!  What are they up to?  Don't be seen doing that, it makes it obvious this guy doesn't know how to choose but just want to 'drama mama' (pretend he is good).

A light shake or turning the durian to opposite sides is suffice.  You will be able to feel a 'tard'.  This indicates that the fruit is ripe (we can tell that from smell and knock without shaking), but most importantly, you can also tell that the durian flesh is not sticking to the shell.

So... trance??  Definitely not going to feel anything.  Why?  The flesh will be smashed to the shell, how to feel the 'tard'?  Remember, don't be seen shaking vigorously.  I seldom want to shake.
(the only place I love shaking is in bed)

---------Why This Choosing, Mentioned Malaysia Durian?---------
Malaysia durians and Thailand durians are different.  The same choosing method won't apply as much.  Thai  durian is another skill set, which is more complex (I have no knowledge, thus won't go into this).