Mid Year 2021 Season

I've not been consuming much durians, as it is mostly wasted calories.  Why did I say that?  The quality are sub standard.

A lot of consumers seeks MSW and the recent years 'new' variants, Black Gold and Black Thorns.

Don't get me wrong, I did hear, these 2 variants are available much further up North.  But almost every stall selling it in Singapore?  Gotta be kidding me.  I'm not buying that 

A few observations in recent weeks.

1.  Supplies

Among the many variants available includes MSW, D24, D13, Red Prawns, Jing Feng (Golden Phoenix), Tekka (Green Bamboo), Tai Yuen (Black Pearl), and the 'Black Gold' and 'Black thorns', etc.

2.  Quality

I've tried Red Prawn and MSW only, and I rather go for Red Prawn.

MSW supply are really really disappointing.  Either too dry or too wet.  Taste wise, not even 50% of what I expect from a good MSW.

Oh, and the 'Black Gold' and 'Black Thorns'......  Can i just eat charcoal?  Charcoals are black, and it's authentic you know!  I'm almost having a mental diarrhea after all.

3.  Names names names

Nvm that black thing.... maybe black magic.

Was at the durian stall, and heard twice from different people, that proves a point.  Many consumers eats words and not durians.

What happened was, a couple pointed out at the sign board that had 2 variants printed, Red Prawns and D24, and they wanted D24.  The pile of durian above the board isn't huge, and there was not a single D24.

Another couple, saw a board with more than 10 names, and wanted 1 of it, and that too wasn't available as the whole pile was MSW.

Anyone eating durians?  I don't have an appetite to eat words.  I'm illiterate!

4.  MSW

Ok if I've to consume it.....

MSW are currently graded A, AB, B and C.  Not everyone knows what it actually means.  Yes?

Grade A are the top grade ones, not in terms of taste and quality but shape and size.

Grade AB is the in between of A and B obviously.

Grade B are still quite large, or should I just equate as, medium size, but usually comes with lesser sides and seeds.

Grade C are in a sense, premature.  They are small.

If I've to consume MSW, I rather go for Grade B.  A rather decent size, yet with less sides and seeds.  

I am a believer that the amount of nutrients that goes to each fruit is 'divided' to each seeds.  If a durian has 10 seeds, each seed receives 10%, while a durian with 5 seeds receives double.  Its just theory, unproven.  But that's the durians I preferred.

Fresh Durian Vs Frozen Durian

Fresh Durian

Few evenings ago, I was passing by some durian shops after dropping off some items to a friend, and decided to have a little bit of fresh durian.  The whole of last year, I barely ate durian, partly due to the Circuit Breaker (kind of a lock down) and also, I wasn't so convince of the quality.  It didn't make me crave.

Ok, so, I hard that the season is ending.  Don't expect too much but I'll be objective.

There were D24, MSW and also other whatever variants, plus some Thai durians too.  I decided to try D24 (since MSW isn't my first choice mostly).  

At first sight, both D24s were not impressive I must admit.  It is unevenly ripen!  Each durian had about 5 seeds and only 2 or 3 are evenly ripen while the rest are uneven.  Taste wise, it was really, subtle, not something that leaves me lingering for more.  I washed it down with beer.

(P/s : don't be deceived by the photos above.  I take photo of the nicest piece and it will make the whole durian looks drool worthy)

Frozen Durian

I've been thinking of feasting on my frozen durian from eons ago.  It has been quite long, so I am a little concern if the durian remains edible or has it turned stale.  Among my stock of frozen durians, I have 3 packs that dates as far back as 13 July 2015 ("New Freezing Method" post ) and many other packets up to 2019.

The last time I had a packet was in Sept 2019.  That shows, either I couldn't bear to consume it, or I just forgotten (no way will I forget my frozen durians).

(frozen durian upon defrost, usually doesn't look pretty, well, unless, I mix it again, semi-freeze and use an ice cream scoop to present it in a bowl or something... but, I am such a glutton, I couldn't wait longer to do all these photo thingy)

I took out a pack of frozen MSW from the 2015 batch to see if it is still good.  This batch is already 5 years 9 months old.  Really?  A lot of things doesn't last that long does it?  Would anyone keep frozen durian as long as I did?  This isn't aged wine or whiskey, that gets better if kept in climate controlled environment.  This is fresh fruit kept frozen.

I was prepared it will taste unpleasing but to my surprise, it is still as good as if it was maybe 1 month old frozen durian.  The creaminess, the flavour, the texture (remember to also peel the thicker membrane that sticks to the seed as this layer has a bit more texture), the color, everything!  It was really good!

(My brother came visit me couple of weeks back, and I gave him a pack of frozen durian from this lot [July 2015] to try.  Overall, he found it amazing after nearly 6 years, sticky on the throat.  Now I'm left with 1 pack from this lot [which I'll eat it in July 2021, to make it truly, 6 years old durian].  Next lot was prepared in Sept or Nov 2015).

Verdict!

It's the era of Ice Age!  Where's Scrat?

It taste better than the fresh durian I had days ago.

If you are keen to freeze your own durian, or other puree fruit, remember, the trick is, AIR!  If we look at anything frozen, if there is any pockets of air, it will cause moisture lost, and that is what ruined the texture and taste of whatever we are preserving by freezing.  The freezing method I used is described in this post where I explained about extracting air.

Thai Durian vs Malaysia Durian 

Since the Malaysia durian season ended weeks ago, and the next season is about to start, I had taken to, Thai Durian, namely, Cheng Nee.

Many Singapore/Malaysia consumers are not in favour of Thai durians, for several reasons including, Under ripen durian, low quality, mild durian pungentness, lack of flavor, and the gassy taste that is familiar with Thai durian.

I concur to a certain extend.

From a novice notion, Thai durians are harvested before it fully ripens.  To the Thais, rotten fruit falls off the tree, while good fruits are harvest.  Not wrong.  Which fruit apart from durian, falls off the tree and are consumed?  I can't think of any.

Coming back to this update.  Since the Malaysian durians are not very much in the season yet, well, might as well, try Thai durians.  This piece I tried is a mid size Cheng Nee, weighing between 1.6-1.8kg if I'm not wrong (ailing memory).  

The color is rather even, a sign of consistency, and the flesh are succulent soft and there is no 'blind' spot of hardness (uneven ripeness).  

Taste test.  First bite, it has the aroma that I hope to get, not overly pronounced like Malaysian durians.  Thai durians are more subtle in taste, yet this piece has a nice linger smell up the nose on first bite.  It is mildly sweet/bitter, and smooth creaminess akin to a good MSW (btw, I've not had good MSW for a long time).

The end result, the aroma didn't last too long after the last seed.  It vanish soon after, which is, what is expected of Thai durians, which I'll phase it as, "Good while it last, gone when you are done".

Conclusion of this Thai durian vs the Malaysian durian I had in early April 2021, this Thai durian wins!

Next Malaysia Durian Season

As at last weekend (8 May 21), there are already some Malaysia durians in the market.  If I'm not wrong, most common Malaysia durians available currently are, Kang Hai, D13 and D101.  I'm not sure if other variants are out yet.  I'm not yet keen in Malaysia durians, as it is very early season.  Let's wait another 2 weeks or so.  

Errrr if you try to freeze and age it, and if it turned out bad, don't hold me accountable ok. 

Mid 2020 Season

Malaysia's Movement Control Order (MCO) have mostly been lifted.

Singapore's Circuit Breaker (CB la) is in Phase 2.

Covid-19 has done a lot of damage in many sense, from Economical, to Intellectual.  

CB Phase 2 was lifted past midnight into Friday 19/06/2020.  Of cos we had a few really lose nuts that deserved to be booked/fined and hopefully charged, for deliberately causing trouble by not maintaining social distancing, not masking up, etc.  

Example, heard that a bunch of monkeys invaded a particular 'Village', gathered around a hut (hopefully the 'wild life authorities' do a thorough investigation and take necessary action).  Ok never mind, why did I even talked about monkeys and bananas.  

Stay safe, be responsible and use some pea brain, be masked when in public (unless eating/drinking or exercising).  It's not YOU, it's your family that suffers from irresponsibility.  Wait, not my business.

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So, what has this got to do with DURIANS?  Nothing, but something.  With the economy badly affected by Covid-19, with lower consumer confidence, rightfully, spending power would be reduced.  

What's weird is, why are durian so so so expensive?  COST!  Suppliers are charging a premium.  Consumers, probably the 2.5 months CB has reduced spending by nearly half, and that the borders are mostly closed, no need to spend on June Holidays, they have more cash to spare.  So.... well, maybe that explains the capitalist, of very high cost from suppliers.

Friday, CB Phase 2 (PCB) opening.  I was out for dinner with 2 others, and a couple of beers, when we decided, since beer consumption has to stop at 1030pm, we decided to have durians.  That was my first feasting.

It was just that neighbourhood shop.  I asked, if he is able to picked bitter D13, which the guy said, got to try.  The way he picked and opened the durian, I knew, FORGET IT!  I'm getting rubbish.  But what to do, it is just that, average neighbourhood stall with just a durian opener guy.  So don't expect anything good.  

Friend asked for MSW too, never my choice to have MSW, it's really, not my taste.  The best MSW I had was back in around mid 2000, follow by 2015 (which were not as nice compared to 10 years earlier).  I've not had a convincing good MSW for so long, that is why I really don't fancy MSW.  My preference in what I would rate, good MSW, one that has the omph factor of a freshly brew coffee that wakes up the nerves.  

On the durians I had in this session, it was WASTED CALORIES, that's the best I could describe.  Really, WASTED CALORIES!

I think there are quite a bit of Thai durians being sold in Geylang.  Maybe I should head there if I want fresher (than freezer) durians.  After all, a good Thai durian is definitely worth the calories.


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Ok what I wanted to say from this session is:

1.  There are hardly and RED PRAWNS out there.  So stop being tricked to believe.  Remember, A Good Name Sells!  

Would you rather buy D13 or Red Prawns?  Got the answer?

To most consumers, you can't tell apart D13 and Red Prawns.  I won't go into it either.  But just trust me that there are really really REALLY very very few REAL Red Prawns in Singapore, even during good season.  Not to mention, we are only at the start of Johor durian season.

2.  Durian quality is really sub standard.

It was HORRIBLE eating those rubbish.  Seriously, my tongue was upset, my stomach was protesting, my soul felt empty (the stomach is full, but the soul is empty).

DAMN!  I... well ok ok ok.... I love durians, even if it's really not of standard, I'll still eat it simply because, I just don't like wasting food.


Conclusion:
Ok I'll not consume these lousy durians for now, unless it's a seller I'm familiar with.  My next fix, I'll go with durian that I pulp from last January stock.  I still have a batch from nearly 5 years ago, which is still sitting pretty in my freezer.  


P/s : Maybe 10 weeks CB.... PCB, and the lousy durian, plus sellers passing off D13 as Red Prawns got me writing so crudely.  Crude oil prices plunged a lot I heard, so that crudeness is here.  Wait ah, do I need to proof read to see if I accidentally had a verbal diarrhoea of profanities?  Nvm, I wanna go toilet liaoz.