If there is one season that keeps all durian lovers in Singapore and the rest of the globe at the edge of their seat, it is durian season!
June to September 2020 is the opportune time for durian lovers to get their fix this year because it is when these bittersweet gems are ready for harvest. Sales are off the charts during durian season because everyone is trying to get their hands on the tastiest yields.
Simultaneously, the durian season is an advantageous time for suppliers to make the most profits. Aside from regular consumers, eateries all across Singapore are going to be looking for supplies to craft durian desserts and dishes.
The durian business might be brisk during this period, but the high influx of inbound orders also increases the chances of mistakes.
Getting your hands on the tastiest durians is a piece of cake, but so is getting ripped off due to unintended negligence during this busy period.
Before we first opened our doors, we were once consumers of durians ourselves. Nothing was more frustrating than spending exorbitantly on a box of Mao Shan Wang (MSW) durian only to find that it tasted nothing like MSW. A simple search on Google will show you hundreds of other horror stories!
As durian lovers ourselves, we want all other fans to enjoy spectacular durian feasts throughout the year. So, we have 4 quick tips to help you get the most value out of your purchases.
1. Find a Reliable Seller
Quality and customer satisfaction are 2 of the most powerful currencies in business today. Unfortunately, some sellers have too many orders and customers on hand during durian season that they sometimes overlook the quality of their stocks.
Thanks to the internet, there are tons of ways for you to find durian sellers online at home or on-the-go. However, make sure you take a look at their Facebook and Google reviews as well. Check out how customers rate their products and services.
Then again, every rose has its thorns and some customers might have some criticism but that doesn’t mean you should rule out a seller completely. After all, to err is only human.
Instead, check out how the store responds to their customers’ complaints. Do they provide solutions? Do they apologise and try reasoning with their customers? Will they take the criticism constructively?
Ultimately, a trustworthy seller should always try his best to keep his customers satisfied.
2. Do Your Homework
Sure, not everyone has the time nor the capacity to do in-depth research about the various durian species and grades.
But if you really want to make sure your budget goes to the most satisfying durians, you need to know what to look out for when you shop for them.
Here’s a checklist of items you need to be aware of:
- Grades
- Species
- Appearance and tastes of specific types of durian
- Origins of each durian species
One of the most notorious cheating techniques is passing off stale durians for fresh ones.
The best way to avoid this is by requesting to have your durians husked fresh and do a thorough check before footing the bill. Look out for worms as well as rotten and watery flesh. Check if there are any sour and stale smells, too.
If you are unsatisfied with the flesh, highlight to the seller and request to have other durians husked.
4. Seek Expert Advice
Obviously, you want to spend your budget on durians that are fresh and suit your taste buds this durian season.
A durian seller would be more knowledgeable than an average person about durians and would be more than happy to address your questions and concerns.
If you’re spoilt for choice, highlight your preferences and ask for his recommendations.
Consult your durian seller about how best to store the durians so that you get the freshest taste. You might also want to check if they have readymade fresh durian supplies like puree or frozen durians for desserts.