It's durian season! Here are the types of durians available, the best shops to buy them, and where to enjoy them as desserts in Singapore
Is there any country that loves durians as much as we do? We love it so much we built a building in its image – that's hard to beat. Whether you personally love or hate the king of fruits, there's no denying that it always makes a splash when it's in season, with durian stalls popping up everywhere and aunts, uncles, neighbours and friends scrambling to get their favourite varieties at the best prices. With so many options on the market and unscrupulous sellers besides, durian season can get a bit overwhelming. Here's our guide to help you get the best of the crop on your table.
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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.
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.
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 $35 per box, Golden Phoenix at $35 per box, D24 at $24 per box and D13 at $20 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 $20 per kg – Whatsapp ahead to check for daily prices and availability.
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 to the lesser-known Black Thorn. 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, MSW durians are priced at $18 per kg, XO D24 durians at $12 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 specialty store is dedicated to the Mao Shan Wang – the highly sought-after variant that is well-loved for its creamy texture and bittersweet taste. Sample the king of fruits, hand-picked from trees in Raub, Pahang, in a comfortable dine-in setting, or bring home the experience with its extensive selection of durian desserts – smooth ice cream, exploring cream puffs, fluffy sliced cakes, and more.
Order for pick-up and delivery WhatsApp +65 81868552
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 MSW ($22/kg), Black Gold ($24/kg), Tekka ($18/kg), and more seasonal varieties.
Order for delivery wa.me/6591729091
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 ($165) 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 ($130) which piles on the richness with – you guessed it – Mao Shan Wang durian as well.
Order thechalkfarm.com
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
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 ($48.60 for 10 pieces) and the D24 crepe ($88.79 for 8 pieces), but you can also try its creamy and flavoursome durian ice creams, either the sweet D24 tub ($20.56 per tub) or the famed Mao Shan Wang tub ($33.64 per tub).
For durian puffs and mochi
As its name implies, this local bakery specialises in Durian desserts. Its famous bite-sized durian puffs ($12 for 12) are filled with only D24 durian puree. That means no cream or sugar, just durian! Sunlife also does modern variations of pastry like the durian macarons ($13.20 for six), durian mochi ($8) and more. If you're not crazy for durian, don't fret. You can still pick up the mini chocolate and cream custard puffs (from $10), or fruit tarts ($8.80 for six) and mini eclairs ($8.80 for six).
Order sunlifepastries.com
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