It’s that time of the year again – Durian Season is quickly approaching and there are going to be countless durian promotions and advertisements dominating your social media feeds and search engines.
Even if you have decided to stay indoors to maintain your social distancing, you can still get your durian fix simply by ordering online.
eCommerce has made it so much easier for us to get our daily necessities and more. Then again, perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages of shopping for food online is not being able to taste it. Sure, pictures might encapsulate its aesthetic appeal, but visuals definitely do not do the glorious King of Fruits justice.
You can find tons of durian ranging from the renowned Mao Shan Wang to the rare but succulent S17. So which best suits your taste buds?
Fear not, we have the ultimate durian dictionary which outlines 5 must-know types of durian and who they are best suited for.
If You Are Totally New to Durian…
You’ve been missing out! But fret not. If you have always been wanting to experience the juicy goodness that is the durian fruit, you must give Mao Shan Wang a try.
Perhaps the most well-known amongst the various types of durian in Singapore, the highly accredited Mao Shan Wang can be enjoyed on its own. You can also find Mao Shan Wang in a variety of durian desserts like Durian Puree as well as Durian Ice-cream.
It is characterised by its bittersweet and sometimes alcoholic aftertaste that would leave you reaching for another piece. It also has a creamy and buttery texture that feels smooth when you pair it with other elements like sponge cakes.
Moreover, most Mao Shan Wang durians usually have small seeds and more flesh than your average durian.
If You Like Sticky Foods…
If you are a fan of gummy bears and toffee, you are going to absolutely love the orange-coloured D13 durian.
D13 shares many traits with Mao Shan Wang – you get a burst of bittersweet and fragrant flavours with every bite. However, the sticky and gooey texture makes the D13 durian a real treat!
What’s even better is that their prices are probably more affordable than the Mao Shan Wang durian since they have less novelty than the latter. The D13 seeds are also relatively big.
If You Adore the Distinct Durian Flavour…
Not everyone digs the unique durian aromas and flavours, but if you are all about that unique umami taste of durian, the Red Prawn Durian is for you.
Usually only cultivated at the tail of the durian season (around August-September), the red prawn durian is easily confused with D13 because of its bright orange colour. But like cooked prawns, red prawn durian has a pink tinge and a curved edge.
Like the aforementioned durian species, red prawn durian is bittersweet but it has a more pungent smell than the others. It is creamier than firm and usually has small to medium seeds.
If You Enjoy Having an Occasional Alcoholic Drink…
Then the Johor XO is sure to give you the ultimate durian experience!
As the name suggests, XO durians have a bitter taste that is similar to XO (Extra Old) alcohol.
It also has a strong and pungent smell. Usually, with small seeds, XO tends to be more watery than other types of durian. They can be easily mashed into a puree to make desserts.
If You Love the Umami Durian Flavours…
Perhaps one of the durian market’s best-kept secrets, S17 is a rare but white and creamy type of durian that has strong flavour – especially when it is ripe.
S17 is a great alternative to Mao Shan Wang for cakes and other durian desserts because of its strong flavour and unique texture.
You can expect medium to large seeds when you bite into the S17 durian.