Mao Shan Wang? Buttery and bittersweet. XO? Bitter and alcoholic aftertaste.
If you’re a durian lover like us, you’re probably a total expert when it comes to the King of Fruits, knowing all about the various types and flavour profiles off the top of your head. But have you ever stopped to wonder where durians come from? Sure, we all know that Singapore gets most of its durians from Malaysia, but there are tons of durian plantations across the peninsula, with each region specialising in different varieties.
Curious about the origins of our durians? Join us as we bring you on a tour of the places we get our durians from and share interesting little tidbits of each region!
Penang
Located on the northwest coast of Malaysia, Penang was once a top tourist destination among Singaporeans back in the good ole pre-Covid days.
Durian lovers from all across the region would flock there to get a firsthand taste of fresh durian, and for a good reason, too — Penang is home to several types that are uncommon in Singapore. These include beloved ones like Black Thorn and Hor Lor, and lesser-known durians such as Penang Butter King, Capri, Qing Pi, Xiao Hong, and Zhu Chun. Even a durian aficionado might not have heard of these varieties!
Many of these varieties from Penang are not often exported to Singapore due to the sheer distance. However, with travel and movement restrictions in place, fewer buyers in Penang have led to more of these unique durians making their way to our sunny shores. No better time to indulge in these durians than now!
Pahang
Pahang was once natural rainforests, mountains, vegetation and palm trees; now, it is renowned as the Musang King hub of Malaysia. Pahang, or more specifically, the town of Raub, is lucky to have the perfect conditions for growing the precious Mao Shan Wang.
Situated on a valley between Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands, this region is blessed with rich soil, optimal temperatures and clean air. This environment results in exceptional quality durians, such as our Pahang Premium Highland MSW — bright yellow and creamy, with an intense bittersweet flavour. With durian enthusiasts across Asia clamouring to get their hands on MSW every season, it’s no wonder that business is flourishing for farmers in Pahang. In fact, some of them are among the wealthiest fruit farmers in all of Malaysia!
Johor
Did you know that Johor is the largest durian production region in Malaysia? It was found that in 2017, the state produced a whopping 52,261 metric tonnes of durian, which was worth more than RM692 million, or US$167 million! Johoreans are durian-crazy, and it shows. The region hosts annual expos and fruit fairs with durian eating competitions and even contests to officially crown brand new durian varieties.
Add in its proximity to Singapore, and we have a steady supply of all sorts of durians from Johor. Some of our durians that come from Johor include Johor Grade AAA Mao Shan Wang, D101, D1, Golden Phoenix, D13, D24, XO — the list goes on.
Guaranteeing Freshness from the Farm to Your Table
With durians coming from so many different sources in Malaysia, one of our main priorities is getting them to you as fresh as can be. Nobody wants a stale durian! That’s why at Kungfu Durian, we have van after van transporting fresh stock across the causeway to our locations in Singapore every day. Our team will dehusk fresh durians for every online order and ensure it is of good quality before packing it into a vacuum-sealed box. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy succulent, fresh durian delivered to your doorstep!