Here’s the Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Durians

Last Updated on 2023-04-28 , 9:02 am

For those who love the thorny fruit and its creamy flesh, I’m sure you’ve always been trying to distinguish the better breeds of durians such as the Mao Shan Wang or D24 from the normal ones.

Another thing that might have kept you up at night would be how to pick the best Mao Shan Wang or D24. If you face these problems, here’s a guide that will teach you how to only pick the best!

Mao Shan Wang

If you have never tried Mao Shan Wang before, you might as well just eat durian puffs instead. One interesting fact about this popular breed of durian is that while normal durians either have flesh that tastes either sweet or bitter, the Mao Shan Wang is known to have both sweet and bitter tasting flesh in the same fruit. The distinguishing features of these durians are the thorns which are pyramid-shaped and are usually concentrated at the base of the stem.

An unmistakable trait of the Mao Shan Wang Durian is the unique starfish-shaped pattern found at the base of the durian. The flesh of the Mao Shan Wang is also a shade of bright yellow, hence another name of this durian is Rajah Kunyit, which means Royal Yellow in Malay.

Musang King

The Musang King is sometimes mistaken as the Mao Shan Wang durian as it has a similar five-pointed star pattern at the base of its fruit. The difference between this durian and the Mao Shan Wang is that the pattern at the base of this durian is much bigger and more obvious as compared to a Mao Shan Wang durian.

The thorns of this durian can vary, while some durians have sharp pointed thorns that cluster together, others have wide angular thorns that are spaced wide apart. The flesh of this durian is sweet and creamy, and is said to resemble the consistency of a toasted marshmallow. The shell of this durian is also yellow-brown with a tinge of purple.

Golden Phoenix/ Jin Feng

This durian has a shell that varies between shades of pale green to greyish brown. It is a popular choice for durians lovers who wish to enjoy durians at a fraction of the cost of eating a Mao Shan Wang durian.  The durian also contains a considerable amount of flesh for its small size.

The flesh of this durian is said to be bittersweet and slightly watery. The shell of the durian has sharp pointed thorns that resemble needles and the fruit is usually round or oval in shape.

XO

Probably one of the most recognisable durians here in Singapore, the XO is aptly named for its thick watery flesh which is bitter and the taste of which may remind you of alcohol. This is the result of a fermentation process within the durian as it ripens. The shell of the XO durian is brownish green and its flesh is pale yellow in colour.

This durian is typically round or oval in shape, and its thorns are pointed inwards at the base of the fruit which resembles a crater.

D24

The name D24 will send any durian lover into a frenzy when they hear it. The fruit is yellowish-green and its thick creamy flesh is not as strong tasting as other durians, making it a good choice for those who are still hesitant but are considering to try durians.

The stem of this breed of durian is shorter compared to others and there is a noticeable brown-coloured ring around the bottom of the stem.

Red Prawn

The name of this durian breed is due to its flesh being coloured a bright shade of orangey-red and is a favourite among those with a sweet tooth, as its flesh is sweet and creamy but less firm as compared to other durians. The shell of the durian is brown and its thorns are short and spaced far apart.

Black Pearl/ Hei Zhen Zhu

This is one of the most expensive durians you can find in Singapore. The name Black Pearl is a fitting description as this durian is fleshy and have small seeds. It is also small in size with a stubby and short stem.

How to Pick a Good Durian

On top of how to distinguish these premium breeds of durians, it is important for you to know how to pick a good durian. The key factors when choosing a durian include distinguishing their shape, smell and taste.

A durian that is round or oval will definitely have more flesh than an oddly shaped one as they have more inner chambers in the fruit to hold flesh. When it comes to smell, you should take a sniff along the seams of the durian instead of the base as the base of the durian is the thickest part of the fruit. When smelling a durian, it must give off a slight aroma, as an unripe durian will not have any fragrance and overly ripe durians will have an overpowering pungent smell.

Another sign to watch out for is that XO durians are usually large in size and Red Prawn durians are smaller in comparison. When selecting a durian, it is important to not just determine its quality solely on visual cues; if possible, you should also have a sample taste of its flesh. Sample is free mah!