Mid Year Season 2019

Barely had durians last season... craved so much, but missed the first flowering of this season too. Oh well.... that explains why I felt listless.

Had some last week, but wasn't impressed and thought I should wait till late June. Patience isn't a friend. Ok I'm such a durian bitch.

After a tiring long day, I just need an energy boost.  Such a galore... I had 1 Tai Yuan, 1 MSW, half XO, half Red Prawn, finally Udang Hitam Rajah (King Black Prawn)

MSW isnt up to my expectation, but most would like it.

Tai Yuan was alright, but not to my expectation too.

XO glorious XO! Wooo ok I'm taking 1 whole durian, unopened, home. A good way to savor XO is, put the whole durian into the fridge and eat it the next day! That's the best way to eat a good XO durian.

Red Prawn, what's going on? Ecstasy! The richness, bitterness, a shot in the head like wasabi effect

Udang Hitam Rajah, ok I need not describe, it's the King of Red Prawn.

-------------- 23/06/2019 ------------------

I must have been so deprived since I barely had durin last season.

Today's spoils includes, Red Prawn, D13, D88, MSW, Jing Feng and a variant I've never tried before, called Kasap (spell?) or Ice Cream Durian.  I'll write a different post on it.

What stood out today was D13. Not saying the others were average, they were good too, but this D13 took the crown.

It's gotten an unusual durian pungent u like predictability. It's just so hard to describe, more than the old days kampung durian, and not the predictable graded durian.  It's got that nice kam kam taste coupled with a good level of bitterness. The kind I desired for, unpredictable.

Next time I head to the shop, I'll request for this quality again.

------------- 2 Sept 2019 -------------

The season is ending soon and the next season likely starts in November.  So those who loves Malaysia durians, do get your fix or even, stock up.

What surprised me lately was the quality of D24.  Usually, I don't favour D24 from Pahang during hot months (mid year season) as the flesh tends to be semi ripe.  Last 1 week, I was getting real decent quality D24.

The D24 I been eating in last 1 week taste much better than those I had in last 1 year.  The texture were more even, and taste were flavorful.  In fact there were a few that had smaller seed (half the usual size), which means I get more flesh.

I had 2 MSW during this period though, and it pales in comparison to D24.  So, that's how good it was.

Of cos, dont take my word for it.  The seller had opened really nice once for me.

------------------------------- Ganyao ----------------------

I tends to hear, "THAI DURIAN??  It's hard, not nice".  I actually likes it, when a lot doesn't appreciate Thai durian, that's why I get to eat good thai durian once in awhile (when I want to have it).

Over the weekend, at the shop, I noticed Thai durian (Chanee and Ganyao) and asked about it.  I was provided Ganyao on 2 occasions.

On Friday 30/08/19, the 1st one I had was alright.  The texture was almost right, a bit thicker (but not dry or overly sticky), creamy, buttery smooth.  However, the taste wasn't up to my expectation, as the flavaour didn't hit me like a boxer's KO punch.  

The 2nd one was the opposite.  The texture was just a bit on the softer side (but not runny) and everything else was good enough.  The taste was awesome, bitter, mildly sweet and very flavourful, the powdery floral scent that lingers to my nose.  If only the texture was a tiny bit thicker, it'll be PERFECT!

Saturday 31/08/19 night, the Ganyao was a more on the sweeter side, taste was about the first one I had the previous day, so nothing much to remember by.

黑虾王 Udang Hitam Rajah

With all the different new names we get, what Wang Zhong Wang (King of Kings), Black Thorn, Black Gold, etc.... REALLY???  Believe if you wish. I leave it as that. I don't buy the gimmicks.

So what is this, 黑虾王 (Udang Merah Rajah) I titled this post about?

Disclaimer : Don't believe what sellers tells or try to sell you, if they calls the durian this name. It's coined by me (27/01/2019). Till date, there is no such name, 黑虾王 Udang Hitam Rajah (or even the likes) out there.

Ok so what is this all about?

(Ok I'll try some story telling, learn from reading other people's post... a lot of websites on recipe contains some story telling on the dish they sharing)

The other day, I was just wanting to go into JB and since it's in the afternoon, I decided to pop over to a friend's stall in JB, to 'visit' him.

When I reached, just right, he was cutting a soursop and offered some to me. It was the first time I had a semi ripe sour sop (somehow, I feels like a monkey, having seen one in Pulau Weh, plucking a soursop and taking a few bites only). He likes it this way as he said, it's more crunchy, less sweet and with a light sourness to it. I told him, eat jackfruit instead. But hey, it's indeed, Refreshing.

Aiya.... I should have bought 1 whole fruit, once its fully ripen, pulp it and keep the flesh frozen, to make soursop drink. Never mind, i see if time permits this week, sneak in again and get it.

After soursop (in Hokkien, we called this fruit 'Ang Mor Liulian').... I asked him what's nice. I recognized there were the usual, Mao Shan Wang (which really isnt my cuppa durian), and Red Prawn.

This one had the bruised color, which is what sellers now calls it affectionately, Black Gold.  NO, I'm not about to copy them, but just enhanced the original name a little, and making it authentic still, thus 黑虾王 (Black Prawn King).

If you look at the durian above, the darker or uneven shades are actually bruised (blue black) color.

The texture is soft, and that's what I love of my durians, as it's definitely a sign of strong flavour.

This 黑虾王 has the expected 'kam kam' taste, but what I'm rewarded with, is the good balance of bitterness and really great flavour, plus that mild numbing effect like having that biting feeling on the tongue when you use mouth wash  just that it's mild.

This season, I had really very little durian (seeds per fruit), but this one just makes it worth all the calories and fills the void of a durian cold Turkey. It's one of the best I had in 2018 till now. If I were to take MSW right after this, it likely fades in comparison.

Hey, I had both Ang Mor Liulian, and Malaysia durian at a go! What an achievement. I'm so proud of myself suddenly. Ok never mind.

Johor Melaka Road Trip

After months of 7 days work weeks, I found myself facing fatigue and wanted a break for sometime. Finally, earlier this week, I decided to take a short break. Just yesterday, I decided to extend it 1 night. I'm just tired and need to be out alone to recharge, over durian.

Was actually intending to ride but brake pads are bald and I dont have the time to visit the workshop.

A very leisure drive, I decided to exit the highway at the 1st exit of Yong Peng, to try my luck on durian. Glad I did.

The make shift stall only has 1 variant of durian, D24. On asking, it was RM15/kg.

I picked 2 durians, I'm hungry...

This piece was alright. There are only 3 seeds. Taste wise, the flavour was floral and sweet with mild bitterness. It was good enough.

 

Oh my... oh.... darn..... it a really damn good!!! I'm blown over! The strong D24 taste that I've not had for a really really long time. I cant ecen recall having had this knocked over D24 for so many years. I cant believe my luck. It just taste beyond my thoughts. It's just too good!

I'll rest my tummy for the rest if today and hunt in Melaka tomorrow.

-------------

Laat night and this morning, was driving around Melaka looking for durian. The old stalls I'm aware of, have disappeared. In place are some youngsters selling at a much higher price.

On average, most stalls are selling the same D24 for RM36/kg and MSW at RM68/kg. CRAZY!!!!  That's an absolute ripped off. Thats S$12/kg for D24 and S$23/kg for MSW.

Obviously they are targeting ignorant foreign consumers since Melaka are well populated by tourist on weekends, and possibly the largest crowd are Singaporeans.

I guess, those Singaporean consumers who patronized l, are quite immune to such prices and when on holiday, finances doesnt come into play thus wouldn't mind the higher price than back home?

The road side stall (outside Portugese settlement) I approached this morning, told me... ok they have cheaper variant of D24 at RM25/kg  which they claimed, are young trees (while old trees are going at RM36/kg).

Ya Right!!! Tell that to others. I didnt want to debunk him in his face... sometimes I rather just STFU and smiled (ya conn others)...

So, be warned. Dont be the next 'robert' (sings in a creepy unknown tone... it ain gonna be me, and who knows who shall it be)