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Prices of Durians: A Guide

By: Aaron Lim

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that most regard the durian as the king of fruit. SaveMoney.my remembers a time when durian season would come around, and we used to flock durian stalls or supermarkets. Nowadays, instead of waiting for a peak season, you can now find durians everyday, everywhere! But the best and most durians are still found during the original durian season from June to August. However, how many times have you found yourself at a durian stall, looking at the long list of durian prices and names, with no idea of what you are reading at all? Read on and have a look at the popular durian types in Malaysia!

Mao Shan Wang, a.k.a. Musang King/Raja Kunyit (RM20 – RM28 per KG)

The most popular durian at the moment, this durian is known to be the top breed of the fruit. It is the only durian which is said to taste more sweet than bitter. Along with the golden yellowish smooth flesh, the seeds of this breed are small, so small that sometimes you might even get to find seedless ones. Due to its popularity, the price of this durian has increased year by year.

D175 – Red Prawn, a.k.a. Ang Heh/Udang Merah (RM15 – RM22 per KG)

This durian is well known as a second grade after the Mao Shan Wang. A well sought after breed in the country, this durian boasts creamy, custard-like flesh that ranges from yellow to reddish in colour, which is where its name comes from. The Red Prawn durian brings a bitter sweet taste.

D163 – Hor Lor (RM13 – RM22 per KG)

This breed of durian got its name from the Hor Lor pumpkin that it resembles. The Hor Lor durian is known for its thick, creamy flesh. The seeds of this durian are also small, but the fruit brings a little bitterness to the taste. Here’s an interesting trivia: Hor Lor durians from trees older than 40 years old tend to have a chocolate-like flavour.

D24 (RM12 – RM20 per KG)

D24 used to be the top choice for durian enthusiasts a few years back before its position was displaced by the Musang King. As the demand for this durian decreases, the price of it in the market today has reduced as well.

The smell of this durian is said to be the strongest of all durians. The D24 boasts yellowish, creamy, dry textures of thick flesh, with a strong bitter taste before the sweet taste kicks in.

D101 – Durian Mas (RM10 – RM18 per KG)

Originating from Johor, the D101 is usually the choice for customers who want a milder taste. This breed is not as bitter as its counterparts are and it also has a special creamy texture to its flesh that Johor people like to describe as ‘Johor’s special creamy taste’.

Durian Kampung (RM6 – RM12 per KG)

The most common durians you can find in the market. The Malay word kampung means village, which basically means that these durians were not planted in a mass plantation but in a village. The taste of Durian Kampung can range from bitter to bitter sweet but can be quite dry and are usually smaller than the durians planted in a plantation.

And with that, SaveMoney.my completes our round up of the popular durians in Malaysia and their prices. There are still plenty of other breeds, but these are the ones that Malaysians crave the most. The prices may vary as well (especially during clearances!), but we have drafted the average price range of each type. Hungry yet?

* Aaron Lim of SaveMoney.my, an online consumer advice portal which aims to help Malaysians save money through smart (and most of the time painless) savings in their daily banking, technology, and lifestyle spending habits.