A mandarin nickname which literally translates to 'cat mountain king', this Mayalsian durian cultivar is also known as 'musang'. This is among the highest quality 'species' and a great choice to experience first-hand why it's the King of Fruits in Southeast Asia. Sold together with the menacing shells, this cultivar can cost anything between SGD$12 -20 Singapore dollars per kilo. An average sized durian weighs about 1.5-3 kilos.
Like many of the culinary gems around the world (eg, white truffle from Alba, Amedei Chuao dark chocolate, Danablu blue cheese, raw Californian sea urchin, etc.), durian's flavour is wonderfully complex, with a powerful aroma (abit like blue cheese) and a lusciously rich, creamy texture (like raw sea urchin or custard?). It may also be mildly fibrous, like some mangoes
Taste-wise, sweet & bitter dance in the forefront, right next to a very distinctive taste that's hard to describe. Within the green thorny exterior (defending a treasure), the golden flesh comes with a single seed per segment.
In the 'musang' cultivar featured here, the seeds are small, and the long, deep flavours vary even between flesh from different shell 'compartments' of the same fruit. Its pungency can be an acquired taste, but if your mindset is able to venture beyond cultural limitations, be prepared to fall in love!
