The Competitors - Chanee & Mao Shan Wang

Most Singapore consumers shun Thailand Durians for the lack of aroma and pungent. 

In early May 2016, I was in Penang and tried a few fruit which was OK but didn't impress me.  From mid May owards late May, I tried MSW back here in Singapore and was left disappointed. It's after all, beginning of the season.  Since MSW didn't impress, I decided to go for Thailand Durians instead!  

Thailand Chanee (or as I like to spell, Cheng née).  Most consumers swear against Thai durian but never mind, I'm not spilling.

Late May 2016, I had asked my favourite durian guy to reserve some Cheng née durian for me.  Here's how a nice Cheng née looks like

Yes it taste like Cheng née due to the mild gassy taste typical of Cheng née. Texture wise there are a little more bite crunch associated to Cheng née too. Other than that, it has a nice durian aroma and kind of flora smelling too.  So, is it really not good? 

More recently, over the weekend (Mid June), I had some Mao Shan Wang. Quality has improved tremendously since mid May, and prices have since, came down.

Last night's evil deed photo courtesy of Alfred.

Conclusion.... When Malaysia durians are in season, Thai durian are not common.  But when Malaysia durians are not in season, or at beginning/end of season, Thai durians are a worthy alternative.  Seriously, it is worth the calories if you get a good Thai durian.

Penang Durian In Singapore? Really?

I seldom want to burst the bubble but.... 

Recently (this season), a lot of stalls are claiming they are selling PENANG DURIAN!  What Black Thorns, Green Skin, Lin Feng Jiao, Horlor, etc etc.  All the variants from Penang. 

I will use logic to reason my doubts.  It's up to you, to believe sellers, or reason with logic!

1.  In The News!
It was reported, this season's supply will face a shortfall by up to 40%.  The Malaysia news (which I did blog about not long back) was talking about Penang durian plantation owners' plight due to the extreme hot and dry spell.

If there are such huge short fall, not 4% but 40%, is there even enough durians to supply to Singapore??

2.  Traditionally, Penang Durian Supply!
All these decades of durian supplies to Singapore all came from Johor or Pahang.  Since when did Penang Durians cross the causeway?

From what I learnt from some people in the trade, Penang's consumer base is so huge, they barely have enough to supply outside, and it probably never really made it past KL.

3.  Distance
From Pahang to Singapore, the transport takes about 8 to 10 hours.  And sometimes we see to condensation in the inside of the shell.

Penang is another 300km away, or 4 hours lorry trip.  Why is it the durians arrived rather dry?

4.  Texture
The long trip, lots of bumps, would made the durian flesh super soft or even nearly smashed.  Why are these durians still so nice?

5.  Price
For the super long journey and the huge shortfall in supply, those who understands the first basic fundamentals of economics, will know Demand and Supply never resulted in low supply equals low price. 

Going back to Point 1, if supply is in short fall, plus the long transport journey (cost), how is it possible for prices to be low, at S$12/kg?

Cost of Penang durian cannot have come down so much that sellers in Singapore can sell at $12/kg. In Penang itself, you may be able to get it at RM20/kg currently but I cannot believe authentic grown in Penang durians can be at $12/kg in Singapore currently,very very unlikely even when supply is at its peak... bumper harvest is a different story.

Of course.... it is possible when the durian IS NOT Penang durian.


Conclusion.
Given just there mere 5 points raised above, do you still believe what you are sold?

I believe some sellers are going to tell you, Penang Durian grown in Pahang or elsewhere.  Well, this, I can believe, over sellers who made claims that it is authentic from Penang.  I am not going to say they lie, but I would suggest , rarher than being gullible,  why dont consumers use logic reasoning.

The same good durian from one place won't be the same quality grown in another place!  There are more to durian growing than just think you can get the same quality growing it elsewhere.  The simple science is, the minerals in the soil is different between different regions.

Chinese has a saying 'mai liulian zhan liulian xiang'. Durian sellers will claim their durian is the best. It's up to you to trust them. 

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Last Night's Scandal With Malaysian and Thai Babe (durian la... )

Having tried some 'PENANG Durian' last week, and also a small Mao Shan Wang on Sunday, I was gravely disappointed.  I knew durians are not so nice yet.

Last night (23/05/16), I was 'dragged' out at midnight with some friends.  We ordered 3 x D24 and 1 x Thai durian (Cheng Nee).  Here's my little review.

Malaysia Durian, D24
-  D24 (small fruit)
I noticed this little devil among the pile sold by per fruit.  Picked it, took a light sniff and decided I want this!  The seller opened it, and told me it's not good, because of the 3 sides, 2 sides had worm invasion.  WHAT?  The more I want it!

-  D24 (2 x large fruit)
I didn't choose, let the seller choose.  

Of these 3 pieces of D24, only the small, worm infested D24 was worthy.  I ate 2 out of 3 seeds, and these 2 have been 'invaded' by the single worm.  Who cares!  I won't die (and i had a shot of whisky at home before heading to the stall).  The taste of this D24 was really strong, nice bitter sweet taste.  Good thing I insisted on taking it.

The other 2 larger D24 didn't impress me one bit.  Wasted calories.


Thai Durian, Cheng Nee.

I had asked the seller to help me bump the fruit and left it unopen for about 20 minutes while we tuck into the D24.  Bumping helps to soften the texture.

The flesh was thick and sticks to the throat.  Taste was pleasant, way better than the 2 D24 we had.  It is a good substitute for Malaysia durian for now.  I will be tucking into more Thai durian this week!

For those who are very 'anti-Thai Durian', maybe it's time you consider trying it.

Penang Durian - D338, Jing Feng Wang (Phoenix King) & Centipede

On Labour Day weekend, I was down in Butterworth on a touring ride for the 3 Country Charity Ride.

One fellow rider friend knows a few locals there and touch base with them.  We asked if there are durians available, and were disappointed, that the season are not here yet, thus supply very limited.  Another rider said there are, but cost RM50/kg.

Nonetheless, I ventured into Penang Island with a rider on Monday morning (2 May 2016) and during our ride through Balik Pulau, we chanced upon a make shift stall with very limited durians.  We pulled over just to check out what he has and tried a few.

As time were limited (had to return to hotel before 1130am so I can checkout and return to Singapore), I didn't get to take sufficient photos, nor observe much about the durians.  The observations were very trivial as below.  

In addition, given that season just started, quality of durian shouldn't be that impressive.  Besides, the hot and dry spell is supposed to have some daunting effect.


A little background of Penang Durian Supply
Traditionally, Penang may have a lot of durians but oddly, the supply is usually barely able to meet the local demand, thus only little Penang's durian made it out to as far as KL.  I seriously doubt it reaches Singapore.  Besides, the 12 hours long drive (trucking) would mean most durians will be over ripe by the time it arrives in Singapore (and defintely wet interior, with visible condensation). 


D338 

This durian is longish shape, and I couldn't remember any distinctive features of the thorns nor exterior.

The inside, there is this thin 'sim' (durian heart) at the lower half.  The inside of the shell is cleanly white and the husk is thick as evident from the photos.

Flesh is orangey in color.  I would think the durian would taste 'kam kam' but it didn't.  It taste a little like the kampung durian kind of flavour with the bitter sweet taste.  Flavour is not overwhelming.

Overall I would grade this durian as 5-6/10

Centipede (Ya Kang)

The story goes as, there were centipedes found beneath the original durian tree all the time.  That is how the name came about.

This durian is sweet, with a mild hint of bitterness.  There is a 'kam kam' taste.  The flavour is acceptable.  I remember having tasted Ya Kang years ago (maybe 10 years ago) and the memory of this durian was that it taste better than what I had during this trip.

For this piece of durian I had, rate it 5.5/10.

Jing Feng Wang

I do have rather high expectation since the name is so claimed to be "Jing Feng Wang" (Phoenix King).  The reputed Jing Feng from Johor is very tasty and value for money.  For another durian to claimed the title King, it has to beat the one that doesn't hold the title isn't it?

I was awkfully wrong!!!  I was very very disappointed.  Seriously, who named this durian Jing Feng Wang?  It is not even near the quality of Johor's Jing Feng.  BUT, let me put a clear disclaimer!  This is the start of the season and this year's hot and dry spell, these 2 could have caused the quality to be badly compromised, so my lousy judgemental attitude needs to be corrected.

This particular fruit I had, the texture is very dry and sticky (not dry as in unripe) and it really sticks to the throat.  10 minutes after finishing this fruit, the taste and aroma still lingers in my nose and throat.  So it still does has it's value.  

Rate this particular fruit I had as 6.5/10.

Disclaimer once again.
1.  This season is affected by the hot and dry spell (as reported in papers, and as blog in another post) thus I don't expect much.

2.  Season just started and the durian seller told me the actual drop will only be about 2 weeks later (which is mid May).  Thus since it was very early in the season, I won't expect much of the quality.

However, I must also reiterate, given the above 2 issues, the durians are not that bad.  Penang's durian is reputable to be among the best of the land.