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7 Most Popular Types of Durians in Malaysia: A Guide to Their Flavours, Textures, Colours & etc

03 Apr 2023

The weather is getting hotter and 🥵hotter now, which can only mean one thing for Malaysians. The durian season is here! Hip hip hurray!🙌 Malaysia is famous for its durians, and as of 2021, there are over 200 registered varieties. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to choose & where to find the 7 most popular types of durians in Malaysia.

 

Musang King (D197)

musang king duriankorekdurian_lebakbulus

The most popular and widely demanded durian, the musang king, is very much sought after locally and internationally. Musang King can be easily distinguished from other durians with its sparse pyramidal spikes and a ⭐star shape pattern on its bum. Musang King also has a relatively long stem.

 

musang king durians in baskets for sale

c.l.ang

 

An A grade Musang King is round in shape and is the king of the king! It can be pretty expensive and costs around RM 60-80/kg. Even so, B grade and C grade Musang King already surpass many other durians with the richness and creaminess of their texture. 

 

Other Names: Mao Shan Wang, Rajah Kunyit

Flesh Colour: Saturated yellow (like turmeric)

Flavour: Mostly sweet with a hint of bitterness 

Texture: Dry, thick and creamy flesh with small seeds 

Where It’s Grown: Mostly in Raub, Pahang

 

D24

D24 durianjamietan04

One of the most popular and sought after durian, D24’s taste & texture is slightly inferior to that of Musang King. However, because of its more wallet-friendly price and availability outside of the durian season, people like to use it for cooking and making 🍦🍰desserts.

 

d24 durian

ian_xingang_yan

 

D24 has an irregular shape and is in a homogenous green husk with thin spikes that grow packed together.

 

Other Names: Sultan

Flesh Colour: pale yellow 

Flavour: Slightly bitter 

Texture: Soft, thick, slightly runny with large seeds 

Where It’s Grown: Mostly in Johor and Pahang

 

XO

xo duriantyrabundance

Alcoholics are gonna love this because this is the closest thing to 🥃liquor that anyone can get in the durian world! However, don’t worry because this durian is still halal (it’s not like farmers douche it in a barrel of XO lol).

 

xo durian

____a_fish_call_ming____

 

It is known for its fermented taste, and many people call it the high-quality version of D24. Guess what? Many people are often confused between D24 and XO durians. The base of the fruit has a ⭐star-shaped centre depression and brownish-green husk. The long and thin spikes are sparse and grow downward.

 

Other Names: Not Available

Flesh Colour: Pale Yellow

Flavour: Bitter and slightly sweet with an alcoholic taste

Texture: Soft and slightly runny with big seeds

Where It’s Grown: Mostly in Johor & Pahang (Genting and Cameron Highlands)

 

IOI/101 (D168)

durian 101 durian ioihalfpunchman50

IOI or 101 might sound like a k-pop band but is not. Many people often mistake it for D101 (Bangkok T16 ) when it is in fact durian IOI (like the IOI Mall) with the cultivar code D168. It has an oval shape with a brownish-green husk and is easy to pry open or break. The spikes are close knitted, long, thin, sharp and point in all sorts of directions.

 

durian 101 durian ioi

cherrieleegroup

 

The size is mostly smaller than other durians, with a weight of 1-2kg. Fruits that reach 4kg are rare and only come from old trees (around 20 years old). It also has a straight and stalky stem.

 

Other Names: Durian Mas Hjh. Hasmah

Flesh Colour: Saturated yellow (like turmeric)

Flavour: Sweet (some claim that it has a bitter aftertaste)

Texture: Thick and creamy with big seeds 

Where It’s Grown: Mostly in Johor 

 

Black Thorn (D200)

black thorn duriangogetoei

Sounds like a new superhero in the avenger team but is not. Nonetheless, you can expect as much power from it as it is one of the most expensive varieties of durians on planet 🌎earth. The price of 1kg of Black Thorn can exceed 🤯RM100/kg! (man…this is like the Tony Stark of durians). This is because the durian is rare, and the taste is superior.

 

black thorn durian

evemaire

 

The fruit appears to be stout and has a round shape with a relatively short and stout stem. The Black Thorn gained its name through the shrivelled stamen on its bottom that resembles a black thorn. Even though the seeds are big, it is still not a turn off as the pulps are equally thick, giving eaters the satisfaction of eating them.

 

Other Names: Ochee, Duri Hitam, Hei Tze

Flesh Colour: Orange-yellow or dark orange (old trees)

Flavour: Sweet with a hint of bitter aftertaste

Texture: Dry, thick and creamy with big seeds 

Where It’s Grown: Penang (mostly Balik Pulau)

 

Red Prawn (D175)

red prawn durianiamfeliciaang

This durian is commonly known as 🦐red prawn, but it tastes nothing like the seafood. It is named red prawn due to the shape and colour of the pulps that look like some cooked prawns.

 

red prawn durians

gordon61

 

The husk is in pale brown husk colour with short, sharp and sparse spikes. Red Prawn durians are generally hard to pry open (like your crush’s 💓heart). Unlike D24 and IOI, Red Prawn durians are rarer and more 🤑expensive compared to them.

 

Other Names: Hong Xia, Ang Hay, Udang Merah

Flesh Colour: Orange, slightly pinkish

Flavour: Sweet

Texture: Creamy and paste-like with medium-sized seeds

Where It’s Grown: Mostly in Penang, Johor & Pahang

 

Kampung Durian 

kampung duriansharmaineyeap

Small and mighty is the best way to describe Kampung durian. It might be inferior to many other durians when it comes to texture and pungency. However, it is still able to pack a 😋smashing taste!

 

kampung durian

kimchi_janelim

 

Kampung durians are generally small in size and cheaper than most durians, making them a go-to for durian lovers who are a bit tight on the budget. Some people might find it not so satisfying to eat due to its large seeds and not so thick flesh. Nonetheless, it is easily available on almost every durian stall and tastes good! (it is a durian after all!)

 

Other Names: Not Available

Flesh Colour: Pale yellow

Flavour: Sweet (some are slightly bitter)

Texture: Thin & runny flesh with large seeds

Where It’s Grown: Anywhere

 

 

With our guide to the 7 most popular types of durians in Malaysia, you will be able to distinguish between durians and won’t be cheated by vendors! Don't forget to share this blog post with fellow durian lover friends and family members!

 

 

YUMMY LIST ALERT!

 

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