Durians!

The durians are back! Hooray! They are a living testimony that true beauty lies within. Who would have thought that such ugly prickly husks could yield such wonderful treasures?

I love the pungent aroma of the durian. Doesn't it immediately set your taste buds tingling? And the creamy yellow flesh deserves to be savoured slowly so that every gratifying bite is made to last as long as possible.

Who can possibly forget the burst of sweet richness and the lingering hint of bitterness that comes with every bite? Over the past 2 days, PT and I had chomped through 2 boxes of durians. Just one more box left..sigh…

Here are some of my favourite durian varieties.

Mao Shan Wang (Cat Mountain King)

Once you eat this, you’ll never want to eat another variety of durian again. Generous mounds of flesh surround small seeds. This durian gives a slightly bitter taste at the first bite which slowly yields to a complex buttery sweetness that leaves you wanting for more.

D24

The recent bountiful harvests of durians mean that the D24 variety can know be gotten at extremely competitive prices. Its succulent yellow flesh is rich and creamy and many durian lovers swear by its signature bittersweet taste.

XO

From Food Fiend

The XO durian has a very strong smell and its taste is more pungent than sweet, with undertones of cognac. It's less fleshy, wetter and the seeds are bigger. But I still remember the first bite I had of this durian and the amazement I felt when the alcoholic flavours pemeated through my mouth

Hong Xia (Red Prawn)

It's been a long time since I had this durian with its characteristic reddish flesh. The pulps are smaller than the D24 and Mao Shan Wang, but this durian comes with a unique gassy taste that needs to be acquired.