Whether you like eating them fresh or in a dessert, here are some of the best places to visit to satisfy your craving for the king of fruits.
Photograph: Dr Durian/ Facebook
It’s easy to see why people love durians. This thorny, tropical fruit offers a unique sensory experience that is impossible to replicate with any other fruit. Depending on the variety you are eating, the texture could range from smooth and creamy to fibrous with a slight chew and the flavour profiles could vary from bittersweet to sweet with a hint of nuttiness and more. For those who enjoy intense flavours, be sure to go for the mao shan wang or black pearl varieties. If you like them sweet and nutty, get the red prawn or golden phoenix. Here's our guide to help you get the best of the crop on your table.
The bumper crop typically arrives between June and September, with a nimor season from December to February. This year though, good weather in Malaysia has produced a surprise glut of durians at the end of the year. Prices have been driven down as a result – and we hear that they're likely to stay down till February 2023.
Go for the durians that are oval in shape, with a green or grey (rather than yellow) hue. It helps to know what a Mao Shan Wang or D24 is supposed to look like too, so you can't be tricked into getting a lesser variety.
Don't be afraid to go by touch – scrape the stems and look for a bright green skin underneath, and pinch the spikes to check that they are stiff and rigid. The best way is to get the seller to open the durian up for you so you can inspect the pulp inside. The flesh should look taut and on the dry side, and feel firm to the touch. Ask to taste it: so you can absolutely be sure you're getting what you're paying for.
Popular wisdom goes that you should have durians with mangosteens. While there's little scientific evidence to back that up, there's really no harm in having Vitamin C-rich mangosteens alongside your durian feast. Beyond that, the sky's the limit! Durians are popularly paired with ice cream and various cold desserts – just try to avoid having it with alcohol. It's not likely to be fatal, but can give you heartburn or make you feel bloated.
Contrary to popular belief, durians actually contain no cholesterol. In fact, the monounsaturated fats found in the fruit may help to lower your bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. That doesn't mean you should overindulge of course – durians have high sugar content, so diabetics especially should watch out. As with everything, eat in moderation.
For quality durians at great value, Durian Empire ranks high on our list, offering fresh durians from Malaysia at pocket-friendly prices. Look out for deals, like three boxes of their signature D13 durian (450g per box, no husks) for just $59.90. If you’re looking to indulge, the Mao Shan Wang is also priced reasonably at $119 for three boxes (up to 500g per box, no husks). The best part? They offer free delivery if you place an order for three boxes and above.
Order for pick-up and delivery www.durianempire.sg
Enjoy the best of this durian season without the frills with Golden Moments. The establishment offers a great selection of premium quality durians ranging from Black Gold Mao Shan Wang to Black Gold Pahang, the latter of which is prized for its small seeds and sweet, custard-like flesh. Prices start from $36 per box (400g). They offer island-wide delivery at $15 per location or $6.99 if you spend over $158.
Order for pick-up and delivery www.goldenmoments.sg
We tried some of the best durians this season from this shop, located on Upper Cross Street. We recommend gathering a group of friends here so you can try different varieties including Mao Shan Wang, Red Prawn, D24 and more. Enjoy the experience of watching the experts pick out the fruit and crack the husk open with their bare hands. Prices start from $128 for three boxes of premium quality durians. They offer express delivery service (within 1 hour) at $10 per location.
Order for pick-up and delivery +65 8509 9850
Many people maintain that Ah Seng is one of the best places to get your taste of the stinky fruit in Singapore due to its affordable prices and dependable service. This durian season, it's offering MSW durians at $40 per box, Golden Phoenix at $40 per box, Red Prawn at $25 per box and D13 at $25 per box.
Order for pick-up ahsengdurian.com.sg
Having been in the durian business for over 50 years, Combat Durian has its own plantation in Malaysia where it gathers its stock from. You can find a wide variety of durians but not to be missed is the MSW that comes highly recommended. MSW durians are currently priced at $21 per kg – Whatsapp ahead to check for daily prices and availability. For those who enjoy intense, bittersweet flavours, we recommend trying the Black Gold variant ($25 per kg) from Penang.
Order for pick-up wa.me/6592789928
Devouring durians doesn't always have to be an activity best done at home. At 99 Old Trees, you can feast on durians at an intimate omakase-style session. Book a seat at the table and eat your way through six variants of durian specially handpicked by the restaurant ranging from the popular Mao Shan Wang ($75) to the lesser-known Jinfeng ($69). Besides unlimited portions of the Mao Shan Wang and D24 Sultan durian, diners also get to try unique house-made desserts like the smooth and creamy durian mousse and cream puff.
Order for pick-up and delivery 99oldtrees.com
This durian shop out on East Coast Road carries a wide variety of the king of fruits. For now, Mao Shan Wang durians are priced at $23 per kg, Golden Phoenix at $20 per kg, and Red Prawn and Hulu durians at $12 per kg. It brings in different varieties once they come into season so keep your eyes on their Facebook page.
Order for pick-up and delivery 227katongdurians.com
This durian vendor impresses with its trendy logo and host of services – doorstep delivery, corporate and private events, live stations and packaging to be shipped overseas. You can even send a text to the vendor to make your reservations and orders. It offers a wider range of durian varieties than most, such as the crowd-favourite Mao Shan Wang ($22/kg), Black Gold ($25/kg), and seasonal varieties like Jinfeng ($20/kg).
Order for delivery wa.me/6591729091
For 24-karat Mao Shan Wang durian cheesecake
As its namesake suggests, this cake ($88) is one of the most decadent durian desserts we’ve ever tried, boasting premium Mao Shan Wang flesh, encased within smooth and velvety cheese mousse. For a luxurious finishing touch, the cake is sprinkled with 24-karat pure gold leaf. Ms Durian also offers a wide range of durian treats including durian coconut milk pudding ($7.10), durian coffee ($15), Mao Shan Wang durian macaron ($8 for 2 pieces), whisky Mao Shan Wang durian cake ($115) and more.
Order for pick-up and delivery www.order.msdurian.com
For Mao Shan Wang mille crepe cake
Surprise the durian lover in your life with this intricate creation ($98) composed of 20 layers of paper-thin crepes, each cooked to perfection and delicately swathed by a layer of silky smooth Mao Shan Wang durian puree. Other notable desserts to try include the Black Gold Musang King Durian Mochi ($19.90 for 6 pieces).
Order for pick-up and delivery www.thedurianbakery.com.sg
For durian salat and burnt cheesecake
Shoot top down on a clean background for maximum Instagram love – Chalk Farm's simply dressed cakes channel the rustic vibes that dominate hashtags on the 'Gram. Now, you can add the super aesthetic durian salat ($172) to your feed – glutinous rice tinted with blue pea extract contrasts with a yellowish custard enriched with coconut milk and Mao Shan Wang durian. But if you're a cheese lover, try the burnt durian cheesecake ($145) which piles on the richness with – you guessed it – Mao Shan Wang durian as well.
Order thechalkfarm.com
For a premium durian fiesta
Goodwood Park Hotel is well-known for its delectable durian puffs – and if you didn't know, you can order these and more durian delights straight to your home. We love the signature D24 puffs ($58 for 10 pieces) and the D24 crepe ($99 for 8 pieces), but you can also try its creamy and flavoursome durian ice creams, either the sweet D24 tub ($28 per tub) or the famed Mao Shan Wang tub ($42 per tub). This year, the hotel is offering the Black Thorn tub ($49.80 per tub) in limited quantities.
Order for pick-up and delivery www.thedeligoodwoodparkhotel.oddle.me
For durian choux puffs
Incepted by the team behind 99 Old Trees Durian, who import some of the best durians from Pahang daily, stinky bomb ($12 for 5 pieces) is their take on the classic durian puff, composed of thin choux pastry filled with rich Mao Shan Wang flesh and light cream. We love how the pastry features a crispy butter crust, adding a delightful crunch to this treat.
Order for pick-up and delivery www.stinky.com.sg/shop
For classic durian cake
Sinpopo Coffee in Funan is where you'll find Nanyang coffee beans roasted with butter – but prepared like an Italian espresso, glossy cakes with a traditional flair – think pulut hitam, gula melaka and coffee. For savoury grub, you can make your own banh mi using local ingredients and flavours. On top of that, you can also get a fluffy durian cake. Dig into soft layers filled with pure Mao Shan Wang durian and light cream, topped off with more MSW durian pulp and cake crumb.
Order sinpopo.com
By far the most coveted durian variety in Singapore, the main novelty of indulging in Mao Shan Wang (MSW) durians is that you won’t know what to expect – its sticky-creamy flesh can be sweet, bitter or even bittersweet.
Looking for something even better than MSW? Then you have to try Wang Zhong Wang, which literally translates to the king of kings. The triple-A grade MSW durians are set apart from the pack for their well-balanced bitterness and velvety smooth texture.
Even though this is one of the more expensive durian varieties out there, it’s good value for money given how small the seeds are. Bite into its dark yellow flesh to see why it’s such a crowd-pleaser – it's the perfect balance of sweet and bitter. D24 durians are also sometimes referred to as Sultan durians.
XO durians have an extended fermentation period, lending them an alcoholic aftertaste. Don’t be alarmed if the flesh looks like it’s gone bad – it’s meant to be watery and suspiciously soft.
Its vibrant orangey-red flesh is sticky, intensely sweet and highly pungent – perfect for those with a sweet tooth but probably not our pick for those new to durians.
The elusive Black Thorn durian can outprice even the highly- sought after Mao Shan Wang durian. Hailing from Penang, it's known for its deep orange flesh, round shape, and a black stem sticking out the bottom. This fruity and pungent variety has a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
This Malaysian-bred durian is a pale greyish-yellow and is slightly bitter. As its name suggests, Black Pearl durians are rare and pricey. If you do manage to get your hands on them though, you’ll be intrigued by how small their seeds are.
Discover Time Out original video
Â
