Types of Malaysia Durians

When it comes to every year,s June to August durian season, When the “King Of Fruits” season rolls around, all types of durians from Malaysia go on display waiting to be savoured. Truthfully, our love affair with the thorny fruit is unquenchable, and many are willing to drain their wallets and go to great lengths for their favourites.

Let us go into details the different types of durian from malaysia and how to differeniate them.

1. Durian Musang King aka Mao Shan Wang or MSW

Arguably the most prestigious type of durian available on the Singapore as well as Malaysia market, Musang Kings are often grown in orchards in Kelantan, Pahang and Johor.

Its immense popularity is probably due to its rich taste and bright yellow-brown hue. Its creamy flesh leaves a lingering bittersweet taste on the taste buds. Its pyramid-shaped thorns and the star-shaped pattern at the base of the stem are the clearest giveaways.

Flavour: Creamy and bitter-sweet

Texture: Butter-like thick flesh

Colour: Bright yellow

From: Kelantan, Pahang and Johor

 

2. Durian Red Prawn aka Hong Xia

The flesh of the Red Prawn is very different from other durians as it usually has an orange to red hue. The taste of this durian depends on the age of the tree on which it grew, with younger trees producing sweet fruit while older ones produced more bitter sweet fruit. 

The Red Prawn is closer to being a “dessert” than other types of durians in Malaysia. Creamy and rich, there’s an obvious absence of bitterness in the reddish flesh, but that’s replaced with memorable sweetness. 

The Red Prawn durian is characterised by its brownish colour as well as its short thorns that sprout far apart from each other.

Flavour: Sweet

Texture: Creamy but can be slightly watery

Colour: Red-orange

From: Johor and Pahang

 

3. Durian Golden Phoenix aka Jin Feng

If the Red Prawn caters for those with a sweet tooth, then the Golden Phoenix, with its needle-like thorns, is nature’s gift to those hankering for something bitter.

The pale and watery yellow flesh can sometimes be mistaken to be rotten, but there’s no mistaking the strong scent that follows this durian type.

Due to its small size, you’d be forgiven for not realising this is a durian at first glance, with some specimens even mimicking the size of a regular mango.

Despite this, the Golden Phoenix offers a substantial amount of flesh, often earning it a reputation for being value-for-money.

Flavour: Bitter, occasionally sweet

Texture: Less creamy with a watery texture

Colour: Pale yellow-white

 From: Pahang, Johor

 

4. Durian Black Pearl

Identified by pale bijou seeds, the Black Pearl is one of the rarest durians on the market, so expect prices to be steeper than usual. But the price tag justifies the exquisite taste, according to fans of the fruit. Heavy in bitterness with a clear tinge of sweetness undercutting the aftertaste.

The small seeds allow for more of its flesh to fill up the fruit. Besides its size, the short and stubby stem is often a giveaway of the Black Pearl, along with its pale-yellow flesh with grey undertones.

With a flavour that is often described as subtly bitter with a milky aftertaste, it is a perfect choice for those not in favour of strong durian flavours.

Flavour: Bitter with subtle sweetness

Texture: Soft

Colour: Pale yellow-white

From: Johor 

 

5. Durian D24

A close rival to the Musang King, the D24 is also sometimes called the ‘Sultan’ or the ‘D24 Sultan’.

Interestingly, the D24 used to occupy the bestseller spot in the 1990s before the Musang King was introduced into the market.

The D24 is said to be subtler than the Musang King, but also shares a creamy texture and is often a good pick to introduce to durian newbies.

Aside from its yellowish-green flesh, the relatively short stem of the D24 and the obvious brown ring

Flavour: Mostly bitter with hints of sweetness and alcohol

Texture: Robust, firm, and thick. Can be a little dry at times

Colour: Pale yellow

From: Johor, Pahang, Cameron Highlands

 

6. Durian XO

If you prefer bitter and intense flavours, then you and the XO are a match made in heaven.

With a pale-yellow flesh that tends to seem watery in appearance, the XO’s flesh is distinctly bitter and has an alcoholic taste to it, a result of the fruit fermenting during its ripening stage.

Featuring a brownish-green shell, the XO durian often takes on an oval appearance, with thorns pointed inward at the base of the fruit.

 Flavour: Bitter with an almost alcoholic taste

Texture: Soft and slightly watery

Colour: Pale yellow-white

From: Johor, Genting, Cameron Highlands

 

7. Durian D101

Grown in Johor, the D101 combines bitterness, sweetness, and fibrous flesh into a delectable treat. It’s the perfect durian to satisfy your cravings without feeling the guilt, which also makes it accessible for elderly and young children! As the flesh is firmer than other types of Malaysian durians, it falls off the seed easily so you don’t have to worry about making a mess. 

Flavour: Bitter-sweet

Texture: Fibrous and firm

Colour: Yellow with subtle orange tones

 From: Pahang, Johor

 

8. Durian D13

Easily mistaken as Red Prawns, the D13 has deep orange flesh that’s mostly sweet with flavours of bitterness sprinkled throughout. That said, season durian eaters may find the D13’s overall appeal too mild and unsatisfying. By comparison, the D13’s seeds are also larger than other styles of durian in Malaysia, which is offset by an affordable price tag. 

Flavour: Sweet with subtle bitterness

Texture: Sticky and not fibrous

Colour: Red-Orange

 From: Johor, Segamat

 

9. Durian Tekka aka Green Bamboo

Tekka, which is also known as the Musang Queen, comes on the tail of the Musang King’s reputation. However, Tekka stands on its own for its consistent texture and bitterness although it doesn’t look like much. In terms of rarity among the types of durians in Malaysia, the Tekka is quite hard to come by so don't miss it when you come across it.

Flavour: Bitter with overlaying tartness

Texture: Moist and wrinkly, breaking easily

Colour: Pale, almost-white yellow

 From: Johor

 

10. Durian Lao Tai Po

This Durian has a rather controversial name as it doesn't look like an old lady at all. Its name comes from the looks and taste of the durian. Its durian flesh is moist and wrinkly. Lao tai po durian is bittersweetness and sometimes it comes with small seeds (not all). 

Flavour: BitterSweet, buttery, creamy

Texture: Moist and wrinkly, breaking easily

Colour: Pale, almost-white redish yellow

 From: Johor

 

11.Black Thorn Durian - (Ochee)

Black Thorn Durian is a hybrid durian so it is created for a new variation of taste and marketing too. Black Thorn Durian is also known as D200. It is one durian that is more expensive than MSW due to the minimal supply of this durian. The durian is roundish in shape and it looks like a sign of a star at the bottom of the fruit

Flavour:  rich, creamy with slight hint of bitterness

Texture: Flesh is not as thick as Musang King, it is lighter in texture and it also has the slight bitter after taste like XO durian

Colour: dark orange colour flesh

 From: Penang, Pahang

 

SLH Fresh Fruits is located at 

Blk 727, Clementi West Street 2, #01-248, Singapore 120727 

Feel Free to email us at slhfreshfruits@gmail.com for more information on Durian Delivery.