TASTE OF TOP DURIAN VARIETY IN MALAYSIA (Part 4)

DURIAN IN MALAYSIA (Durio zibethinus) are one of the most popular fruits also known as 'King of The Fruits' locally. From my experience in agriculture sector for more than 35 years reported that there are 85,366 hectares of durian grown in 2022 producing for 459,747 metrics tons of fresh fruit. According to Department of Agriculture Malaysia, the largest durian is grown in Johor about 19,766 ha producing for about 121,898 mt followed by in Pahang for 14,803 ha producing about 107,386 mt and also Kelantan for 8,667 ha producing about 41,815 mt in 2022. There are more that 224 durian varieties registered under National Plant Variety Registration with the Department of Agriculture where I was involved in the process of making it last time. I also write almost 800 articles about durian in "Anim Agro Technology'' blog in the past 15 years and read by millions. However, when it comes to every year's June to August durian season, When the “King of Fruits” season rolls around, all types of durians from Malaysia go on display waiting to be savored. Truthfully, our love affair with the thorny fruit is unquenchable, and many are willing to drain their wallets and go to great lengths for their favorites. In the article "Anim Agriculture Technology" I would like to share some basic information about some premium or popular durian varieties in Malaysia for your consideration.

10. DURIAN LAO TAI PAO
For me this durian variety are popular among certain durian lover in Malaysia and Singapore. The given name of this variety for this durian has a rather controversial name as it doesn't look like an old lady at all. Its name comes from the looks and taste of the durian bring a Chinese Character. I never tested this variety due to it was a rare variety sold in the open market. reported that its durian flesh is moist and wrinkly. Lao tai po durian is bittersweetness and sometimes it comes with small seeds (not all). There are claom that the flavour of this variety is bitter sweet, buttery  and creamy with the texture reported as mist and wrinkly abd alzo breaking easily. the flesh colour is pale with almost-white redish yellow (see picture). Reported from a group of chinese durian lover that this variety are found only in Johor.

11. DURIAN DURI HITAM (D200)

This is among the latest premium durian variety in Malaysia and became the most newly planted variety. This variety also known asa the Black Thorn Durian or in other location known as Durian Ochee. For me the Black Thorn Durian is a hybrid durian so it is created for a new variation of taste and marketing too. Black Thorn Durian is also known by their registration number that was D200. It is one durian that is more expensive than Musang King reaching to RM120 per kilogram in few years ago. The high prices due to the minimal supply of this durian because mostly are new planting stage. The durian is roundish in shape and it looks like a sign of a star at the bottom of the fruit. For me during the Kedah and Penang Durian Festival in recent years manage to test as a judge this Blackthorn durian variety with the flavour of rich, creamy with slight hint of bitterness. The texture for the flesh is not as thick as Musang King and it was lighter in texture and it also has the slight bitter after taste like XO durian. The flesh colour ia dark orange colour flesh and mostly grown in Penand and Raub in Pahang. There are few sequence article for this popular durian in Malaysia from Part 1 to Part 4 respectively. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(October 2023).

Updated ib June 2026.