Durian Supply And Review - 26 July 2016.

Most recent durian consumption was just last night.  In the last 1+ week, I have been consuming a fair bit of durians, should have about 6 or 7 session in 10 days.  So what's the going?

Not in exact sequence of consumption but some of the durians I had lately includes XO, D13, D101, Kang Hai, Jing Feng, Tai Yuen, Tekka, Mao Shan Wang, just to name those of can recall.  So, what's my experience?

XO isn't my favourite durian as it has mild character but just bitterness. Kang Hai is not my choice either but it's doable. D13 is OK.  That leaves D101, Jing Feng, Tai Yuen, Tekka and Mao Shan Wang.

The most popular durian among Singaporeans is Mao Shan Wang. Hmm it's distinctive in flavor but it's so so so predictable. What's so great about this king? So far I haven't been impressed this season.

Tekka I had last night was great. I would pick a good tekka over a good MSW anytime.  Tekka is grainy as usual, but has a complex taste, coupled with the bitter sweet taste in it.

Tai Yuen is not always that great but I had really nice Tai Yuen too. This variant isn't always available, as in, the supply is short lived. So if you chanced upon it, it's a good durian to have.

Last night Jing Feng has great flavour of flora and nuttiness in it.  Few friends swing by to join me at the stall I went and we swept at least 20 Jing Feng.  It's a really good durian that beats a lot of variant.

More info on both Tai Yuen and Jing Feng have been written in previous post.

Lastly, D101.  I'm not a consumer of this durian but I must say, I am left very impressed with D101 this season. It matches up to last year's stock.

The typical D101 is sweet and has a sourish after taste. Flesh is average and soft, yet pound to pound, the yield isn't that good.  But truth be told, this season D101 is awesome. Barely any sourness, can get a good bitter mildly sweet do fruit too. Texture is quite good and seeds are semi flat. Pound for pound, it's worth it. Evidence of my experience below.

 1 whole D101 durian weighing approximate 2.3kg (this particular piece) in 1 box, total of 17 seeds.

Some small seeds,some semi flat and some usual large seeds.

I'll try post a write up on D101 soon.

--------- update 1 Aug 2016 ---------

Tried Tekka on 1 Aug 2016. It was really good!  Photo evidence below.

It is really good! Good aroma, nice texture, bitter sweet, citrus like, everything I seek in a good Tekka. 

Not many seeds in 1 whole fruit but it is very much worth it. I am not a firm believer of quantity but quality. Rather have a durian with lesser seeds but solid quality than one with lots of seeds but lacks quality.

Good amount of flesh. Refer to above photo on e depth of shell.

---------------- 04/08/2016 ----------------

Irresistible!  Pictures speaks a thousand words they say.

---------------- 5 Aug 2016 ----------------

Different sellers carries different variants but the general range of durians includes, XO, D13, D101, D24, Tekka, Jing Feng, Tai Yuen, Mao Shan Wang, and maybe a few other common variants.  The MSW quality has improved.  I'll still stick to Tekka and sometimes MSW.

Facts or Myth - More on Mixing Durian, A Notch Higher

We heard too much about not mixing durian and how lethal it gets, with people dying.  Let's take this myth a Notch higher.

On 13 July 2016, Dr Roy invited me and a couple of friends for XO durian. That was pretty much the limited variety of durians available.

Upon arriving at his place, inviting us was a bottle of Cordon Bleu and a bag of durians on the ground. What? Are we having durians or XO, or he means XO with durians equals XO durian. Knowing he always has some mischief, we can't take this as a joke.

So... we started with a can of beer, follow by 1 shot of XO. OK that's about nice... than came the durians. Had our fill, and clear it with a second shot of XO.  As he said the next day, all died, except him living to tell and I'm here living past by 2 weeks to write this.

Next day, 14 July, his friend told him, someone he knew drop dead on Essence of Chicken and durian.  OK this isn't funny
 But he actually took it upon himself... OK I think he lived because I met him last night 27/7/2016 for more durians


Last night, after a wholesome lot of durians, he actually washed it down with cola. I think he is still alive right now as I'm writing this, or he isn't?  Nevermind, he said,you only die once.

So what's the myth again?

What next Roy?  Beer with XO with Essence of Chicken with Chinese Herbs (the worm herm) with cola concoction with durian?? You are one crazy durian worm.

I'm not saying it's harmless. Take at your own risk. Not everyone's health can take such combination. Don't try it without your doctor's advise. Roy probably knows his own health best since he is a medical professional.

Durian Supply - Mid 2016

It was reported in the local papers (Singapore) that this season's peak durian supply is delayed by up to 2 months.  Definitely, it has been.  Mid year durian season usually starts sometime in May and will peak in June and July.  However, this season's supply hasn't even peak, and the quality is inconsistent.

In the same news article, it mentioned extensively, the dry and hot weather having drastic effect on durian supplies, as well as the quality of durian, citing interviews with some sellers.  This seems to have echoed what was reported in M'sia newspaper sometime back.

Just some thoughts.  No evidence to back up my thoughts.

Hot and Dry Weather
This year's weather is indeed adverse due to El Nino effect.  However, the weather in Pahang during mid year has always been hot and dry, except that it is hotter and dryer this year.

Initially, I took the news article (Malaysia) as reported, having some truths.  But after some thoughts, Pahang and Penang tends to be hot and dry compared to the southern states.  

Going back to my trip to Penang on Labour Day, it doesn't appear like the hot and dry weather hit durian growing.  I don't see bush fire burnt grass patches, but I saw durian trees with lots of durian on Balik Pulau.  I don't have past years' durian growth as backup, but I doubt it is as bad as reported.

Supplies Shrunk
It was mentioned that this season's supply have shrunk by 30-50% compared to last year.  But, last year was a bumper supply, that only happens once in many many years, so how do we compare last year's supply to this year?  

I do not know what was the average supplies in previous years before 2015, but if we use last year's supply, which was maybe doubled of previous years.  In that case, a 30-50% drop this year compared to last year just pretty much averages out to the past doesn't it?

The last major bumper supply I recall was in about 1997/98 (can't recall which year), where D24 selling price dropped to as low as $1 or $1.50 per kilogram.  In 2008, durian quality was very good, but supply, could be just a tad higher but not like 2015.

Durian Flowers Falling Off
Durian flowers grows in a huge bunch and only a few will mature into fruits.  This isn't new.  The below photo is how durian flowers blossom in a bunch.

Below photo is how only a few will grow into full size durians.  Although they are not the same bunch, but it is general.  Of course there are some bunches of flowers where more than 1 or 2 will mature into full size durians.

The Delay
From past years durian supplies, the season usually starts with Johor durians, follows by Pahang durians few weeks later.  This will result in a 'crash' thereby when supply is high, price falls.

This season's durian supply from Johor is delayed severely.  Johor's weather usually isn't as dry as Pahang especially in mid year period.  This year's extreme hot and dry spell has affected Johor's durian flowering period thus the supply is expected to peak only in July.

Unevenly Ripe Durian
Durian itself, needs some water.  In my layman opinion, it is like human skin, our skin breathes.  Durian itself also needs some water, not just from the roots.  Thus the hot and dry weather in mid year, always affects durian quality during mid year.

Like I blog previously, Johor tends to have some rainfall in mid year flowering/fruition period while Pahang is drier.  Year end, Johor has too much rainfall while Pahang is just nice (for durians).

In mid year, Pahang's durian having this 'lokok' (unevenly ripe) durian is not uncommon, so this season's supply is like all other mid years' from Pahang, nothing surprising.

Conclusion

Yes, durian cost is high currently as compared to past years.  Durian supply is delayed too.  But to squarely believe what is reported, which is based on what plantations and sellers claims, is just blind faith.

Durian cost will be higher as the years goes by.  This is due to operating cost going up with inflation, as well as the Chinese market's huge appetite.  The Chinese (China) have all these years, been eating Thailand durian (Monthong aka Golden Pillow).  

It is in recent years, they are slowly being exposed to Malaysia durians.  Once their palate adapts, the market will be huge.  Opportunities will also result in more and more plantations growing the King of Fruits.