Durian Season 2016 - Year End

Some are already craving for durian. After all, it's been 2 months since most last had their cravings satisfied.

Do not rush into it yet. I have not gone on my search but I believe what you see currently (since mid Sept till at least late Nov) are Thailand durians.

Thailand durians can be nice (as in, suiting taste buds of Singaporeans and Malaysians). Just make sure you are not sold passed off durians (Thai as Malaysia durians).

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18/11/2016
Malaysia durian season has just started with some stalls selling Ganghai.  

01/12/2016
Have you started your feast?  Currently, there are several variants of durians available in the market, mostly D13, D17, MSW, Ganghai.  Information from source, D13 and D17 are good.  MSW and Ganghai, well, if your craving is strong, go for it.  Else, wait another week.

My simple self guide.  Feasting on popular variants of durians such as D24 and MSW supply from Johor and Pahang as follows:
-  Mid year, Johor
-  Year end, Pahang.


03/12/2016
Just tried D13, D17 and Tekka.

This particular D13 I took, weighs 2.5kg.  Very rich in color, smooth flesh, and the usual sweet (slight hint of bitter) taste.

D17 was said to be bitter but this one wasn't as bitter as I was expecting (around 8/10 bitterness).  Taste and durian pungent was acceptable, not exceptional.

Lastly, Tekka.  It was the best among the 3.  It satisfied my craving, for now.  The nice tone, rich taste, just what I wanted.  It's not so bitter, so it should go well with most consumers.

Will wait another week or so for Pahang durians to larger supplies to arrive.  There are small volume available, but cost is too high, thus not many durian stalls selling Pahang durian for now.

Penang Red Prawn

Red Prawns Red Prawns... are you flesh water or marine??? Will I get to see you when I go diving?

Penang's durian have always been much rave about on how good it is.  How about Penang durian grown in nearer States such as Johor?

The soil properties, terrain and weather is different down South from North.  This year's El Nino weather phenomenon may have changed things.  Besides, the wetter period, after El Nino strikes a balance, where there are ample supply of water, yet doesn't cause the soil to be too wet.

I had seen this Penang Red Prawn sold at a particular stall in Hougang but brushed it aside as just another namesake.  But... well, as a fanatic, I still needs to sink my teeth into it, to be convinced if it's worthy or just fad.

I took this large fruit, slightly above 2 kg.  When it was opened, I thought, it's a paler shade of orange, yet a little bruised look. It was very soft, wrinkled, all the sights of a durian I typically love.

I ate 2 sides and packed the remaining 3 sides home for next morning (as breakfast). Don't envy me.

The first piece that sank in. My eyes lid up. It was as I desired, bitter with a mild hint of sweetness!  It's everything nice, strong distinctive character... I'm lost for words how to describe the taste. Should I say,  the blend of bitterness from XO,  kum kum taste of D13 and the shiok aromatic factor of Tekka?  Goodness, I'm bought!

I'm awed! OK I'll eat it again.  After all, Tekka season is almost over.

Just a final note.  Some consumers loves their durian dry, but I love mine soft and somehow I'm happier if it's wet too (not as in, water droplet wet, but wet flesh).  Thus, this durian is not for those who wants their durian dry. Dryness is alienate here. I am convinced it has to be soft and wet. I'm in love. This is Durian Orgasm.

This particular Red Prawn I had is definitely worth 8.5-9 out of 10!

(I love a good durian that is nearly over ripe, where it is really wrinkled, soft and wet, where the flesh almost slips off the seed upon being picked up.  Ever insisted with a durian seller to sell such a durian to me, which he refused, as he said, it's over-ripe... hell NO! That's my fav!

An almost over ripe durian has the strongest character that the particular durian would be. It just gives me that knock out punch a great tasting durian delivers. That's me...)

Durian Season Taste Test - Aug 2016

---------- 17 Aug 16 ----------
After resisting MSW for the last few weeks, and focusing my desires on Tekka, I finally sank my teeth into MSW last night (17 Aug 16).  I wanted Tekka still, but since they finished selling, the seller suggested I try MSW.  As he said, this new batch is good, with a strong assurance.  He knows my taste.

It wasn't a large fruit, since I don't want to pack home.  I asked for a mid size fruit, but he warned, smaller fruit means lesser flesh/seeds, which I'm ok with that.  I'm not into quantity!  My simple logic is, in a single durian, if there are 5 seeds, the nutrients and whatever feeds that goes into the durian, is spread to 5.  If there are 15 seeds, it is spread to 15.  Quality would have dropped with more seeds.  Oh well, that's me.  I prefer to have the omph factor than the oh (so full) factor, but... like my personal quote goes "The stomach is full, but the soul is empty".  I hate that!

Coming to this particular MSW.  It was about 1.7kg and there are 7 seeds in it.  All seeds are flat!

The flesh is consistent in color tone, deep rich yellow.  The texture is soft and glossy, which some would refer to as, wet!  If you want a strong tasting MSW (or many other durians), bitter, flavourful, it is usually soft or nearly wet.  The softer the better.  Have you ever tasted an awesome XO that is dry???  

It taste...... WOOOOOOOoooo the MSW that I like, 80% there, little presence of that kinda 'coffee aroma' factor. So yes, though it taste so damn good, it just came close to my perfect MSW (the 'coffee aroma').

People living elsewhere (from Singapore or Malaysia) but craving for durians, the Malaysia durian is in season.  It is likely to last till October this year.  But right now, I think it's good time to eat durian.  Fly on in.  


---------- 19 Aug 16 ----------

Just did a taste test on sellers claim of "Penang Red Prawns".  

Shall not describe much here but in a new post since I've not done any on the infamous Red Prawns.

In summary, I'm bought! It's that's a large fruit weighing about 2kg or sometimes heavier. But for the roughly 2kg fruit i had, there were about 15 seeds with rich tasting flesh. It's money worth.

That's going to be my chase for the next week or 2, while stock last. I'm sure this Red Prawns won't be for long, since it's quite new and not many plantations in South end of Penisular Malaysia grows it yet.

---------- 21 Aug 16 ----------

Am I sounding like I'm eating durian almost daily?  Well, literally, since last Wednesday and till tonight, 5 nights running.

Latest I tried, D2.  It's got that pleasant easy to like taste, bitter with mild sweetness after taste.  Easy on the platelet.  Each fruit is about 1.2-1.5kg only.

Also tried Tai Yuen (or Black Pearl) last night.  The flesh is sticky, I wonder if it's going down or staying in the throat, yet the bitter-sweet isn't strong, but easy.  Aroma is nice.

Tonight, I'll go back to D101 (packed 1 home last night).  Will give my tummy and waistline a few days break after tonight.  It's just so sinful.