It’s durian season once again and there’s no denying that many Malaysians will be gearing up for a proper durian fest. That said, which type of durian do you prefer?

In general, durians can be divided into two chief flavours, namely bitter or sweet. Most people, however, gravitate towards durians that are on either end of the bitter-sweet scale.

What’s more, Malaysia is blessed with both a suitable climate and topography for durian cultivation, so perhaps it helps to know the types of durians found in the country.

Here are just a few popular types of durians that are worshipped by durian lovers.

Musang King

Arguably the most prestigious type of durian available on the local market, Musang Kings are often grown in orchards in Kelantan, Pahang and Johor.

Its immense popularity is probably due to its rich taste and bright yellow-brown hue. Its creamy flesh leaves a lingering bittersweet taste on the taste buds. Still, how do you tell them apart from the rest?

Simple – the pyramid-shaped thorns and the star-shaped pattern at the base of the stem are the clearest giveaways.

D24

A close rival to the Musang King, the D24 is also sometimes called the ‘Sultan’ or the ‘D24 Sultan’.

Interestingly, the D24 used to occupy the bestseller spot in the 1990s before the Musang King was introduced into the market.

The D24 is said to be subtler than the Musang King, but also shares a creamy texture and is often a good pick to introduce to durian newbies.

Aside from its yellowish-green flesh, the relatively short stem of the D24 and the obvious brown ring at the bottom are two of its best traits in terms of identifying it.

XO

If you prefer bitter and intense flavours, then you and the XO are a match made in heaven.

With a pale-yellow flesh that tends to seem watery in appearance, the XO’s flesh is distinctly bitter and has an alcoholic taste to it, a result of the fruit fermenting during its ripening stage.

Featuring a brownish-green shell, the XO durian often takes on an oval appearance, with thorns pointed inward at the base of the fruit.

Red Prawn

Sometimes referred to by its Malay name, Udang Merah (Red Prawn), the sticky flesh of this durian has a slight red-orange hue to it.

It is also a known fact that Red Prawn durian seeds tend to be disproportionately large, thus leaving little flesh for people to enjoy. Even so, many will attest to this durian being a love letter to anyone with a sweet tooth.

The Red Prawn durian is characterised by its brownish colour as well as its short thorns that sprout far apart from each other.

Golden Phoenix

If the Red Prawn caters for those with a sweet tooth, then the Golden Phoenix, with its needle-like thorns, is nature’s gift to those hankering for something bitter.

The pale and watery yellow flesh can sometimes be mistaken to be rotten, but there’s no mistaking the strong scent that follows this durian type.

Due to its small size, you’d be forgiven for not realising this is a durian at first glance, with some specimens even mimicking the size of a regular mango.

Despite this, the Golden Phoenix offers a substantial amount of flesh, often earning it a reputation for being value-for-money.

Black Thorn

Penang’s Black Thorn is often ranked among higher-grade durians with a price tag to match.

This is simply because they are limited in numbers, with most cultivated on the island state and in parts of Pahang.

Its flavour is distinctly sweet and its flesh is almost custard-like in terms of its rich, yellow or orange hue.

Often compared to the Musang King, the identifying characteristic of the Black Thorn is the darker tips of its thorns.

Black Pearl

No, these durians are not from Captain Jack Sparrow’s mysterious pirate ship. They are called so because their seeds are spherical in shape and resemble pearls.

The small seeds allow for more of its flesh to fill up the fruit. Besides its size, the short and stubby stem is often a giveaway of the Black Pearl, along with its pale-yellow flesh with grey undertones.

With a flavour that is often described as subtly bitter with a milky aftertaste, it is a perfect choice for those not in favour of strong durian flavours.