Durian 2014

[Carnage]

Do we need to make reservations if we are going as a small group to eat at either Sindy or Combat?

And which of them is the preferred one?

Prefer combat.

Have been patronising them for almost 3 years. Quality is never disappoints.

Yesterday tried Mr Kho at bukit batok st 11, also another gem. But his MSW mostly quite big seed, don't know why.

 

[Eviltrap]

Prefer combat.

Have been patronising them for almost 3 years. Quality is never disappoints.

Yesterday tried Mr Kho at bukit batok st 11, also another gem. But his MSW mostly quite big seed, don't know why.

Do you call to make reservation or just walk in?

 

[ralfale]

Any tips how to pick the better durians from the lot?

Think I did a bad job, end up getting the ones with lesser seeds, sometimes watery n flash not firm

 

[Kaki369]

Any tips how to pick the better durians from the lot?

Think I did a bad job, end up getting the ones with lesser seeds, sometimes watery n flash not firm

Since you have started on your quest of choosing your own durians. It means you have somehow got the fundamentals already. Just need to fine tune alittle bit here and there.

Hmmmmmmmm... how about sharing how do you go about choosing your durians? And from there, we can all learn and exchange tips to better our senses at this very interesting hobby of Tikam Tikam.

Cheers!

 

[gussyupmywall]

went down Leong Tee today. quality is really good!! ppl are snapping up the msw fast!

 

[ralfale]

Since you have started on your quest of choosing your own durians. It means you have somehow got the fundamentals already. Just need to fine tune alittle bit here and there.

Hmmmmmmmm... how about sharing how do you go about choosing your durians? And from there, we can all learn and exchange tips to better our senses at this very interesting hobby of Tikam Tikam.

Cheers!

Actually I didn't really "choose". It was all pushed to me by seller saying they are god damn good. Paid $55 for 3 durians but wasn't the best pick at all! Feeling frustrated so wanted to do some homework tonight.

Saw this video I thought it's quite a good start.
ieatishootipost blogs Singapore's best food: The Durian Tutorial: Made Possible with my Creative Vado

 

[tomb]

bought some pahang msw today. two dry with sticky flesh, one wet.

have to agree that they're better than the johor ones.

 

[Kaki369]

Actually I didn't really "choose". It was all pushed to me by seller saying they are god damn good. Paid $55 for 3 durians but wasn't the best pick at all! Feeling frustrated so wanted to do some homework tonight.

Saw this video I thought it's quite a good start.
ieatishootipost blogs Singapore's best food: The Durian Tutorial: Made Possible with my Creative Vado

I feel you buddy. Tuition money paid now is not really necessary but I think well worth for the long term.

First thing u wanna do is boycott this seller

Yup the video is really good but few things to point out and add on:

1) Never ever ever ever ever smell the "backside" like what Ah Loon did. There wont be any smell or it wouldnt be a good indicator of what's inside at all. Smell where you may ask? Smell the upper half and smell all round to have a perfect idea. Why smell upper half? Simply because durian ripen from bottom up. That is why those who know how to eat durian, will always take the flesh pod nearer to the stem as that is the most intense pod. And why smell round? Simple, to ensure you have a good and consistent durian.

Well anyway I think Ah Loon just wants to illustrate the essence of choosing a durian. I think he really did a good job in explaining how to choose durian in under 4mins. I would probably take more than that.

2) Odd shape and Round shape durian.

Like what Ah Loon was saying, the round shape is lower grade. Hmmm I think what he meant was the quality, as shown when he opened the durians. Choosing durians, we always want quality and for that we always try to choose odd shape durians. For reasons such as thicker flesh (quality) on each seed because there is lesser seeds (quantity). With rounder shape durians, you will get lots of seeds (quantity) but each seed is enveloped with so little flesh (quality).

3) Weight of durian.

Using your sense of touch and sight, you carry a durian by the stem and its size is of maybe a mature thai green coconut. Boy oh boy it feels so heavy for its size. Why is this so? Answer: Under ripe or more possibly over ripe. Why over ripe? Because it is full of water, you will get really wet flesh. How to confirm? Using your sense of smell, if the smell is over-powering and WOAH! then you can confirm it is over-ripe. If no smell at all? Under ripe and so you do a test by shaking it, no sound? Yeap, confirm under ripe because the seeds are sticking to the shell already.

So in a nutshell for point 3, what you want is a durian that feels and looks its weight. It should feel light and just nice.

4) Thorns.

I don't like to choose durians with many many many small tiny thorns. I avoid these durians because either the quality is really bad or the seeds are big. Big and wide thorns is the way to go for me. This applies when I am choosing kampong durians. Or if I see a branded cultivar i.e green bamboo, mao shan wang, d13 or d24. I will definitely go for it. Other cultivars like golden phoenix, red prawn, 101 etc. Hmmm very very rare or rather I have never seen before having such characteristics of wide and big thorns.

Next, as this section is on the thorns, we ought to give the durian of our choice a visual run down. Meaning do a detailed visual check on the entire durian's exterior. You don't want to have a durian with worm holes and get a surprise later. Press 2 thorns together and make sure it is firm and resistant. Just like Ah Loon had pointed out in the video, for the overnight durian which has released too much water. The thorns tend to be soft when pressed together.

Last but not least, check the "backside" of the durian. If it has opened or u notice the seams or "backside" is opening or opened. Put it back.

To conclude in step by step (not in sequence, but you may follow for simplicity sake):

1) Use your eyes to spot odd shape, freshness of stem (make sure its hard and as white as possible for the tip. Not brown, dry and shrivelled), any worm holes and "backside" is not opened. And the overrall durian should "shine" like how Ah Loon had pointed out. If its too "shiny", chances are its still very green and underripe. But you won't get this outside usually, this experience of mine is from my picking in the jungles of Singapore.

2) Use your nose to smell the upper section of the durian all around. You want to have a smell that is not over-powering or comes to you straightaway. You want a smell that comes to you slowly.... slowly... but surely. But seriously, try not to smell too much due to the pesticides used on them. I know of sellers that retire their business here and head back to their hometowns because they contracted nose cancer.

3) Use your ears to hear a knocking hollow sound as you shake it. Don't shake too hard for you might just smash the flesh inside. You see sellers knocking the durian with their knives? And you have experienced doctors tapping your stomach to check for stomach wind right? And and you have experienced choosing watermelons by tapping it for that beautiful hollow sound right? Same logic here applies, you want a durian that resonates a hollow "Pong Pong" sound. If you hear a "Ping Ping", it means underripe or the durian is wet on the inside.

4) Use your eyes and hand to pick up the durian and check if it looks like and feels like its weight and size.

5) Use your fingers to feel the hardness of the stem and resistance of the thorns.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Kaki369]

bought some pahang msw today. two dry with sticky flesh, one wet.

have to agree that they're better than the johor ones.

If you find the flesh too dry, let the durian breathe in the fridge or room temperature (I prefer this over the former) for an hour 2.

If the flesh is too wet or wet, simply put it in the fridge overnight for the flesh to firm up.

BUT... here's the thing, never ever ever ever ever put the covered box of styrofoam durian straight into the fridge. Durians are HOT and HEATY by nature, place ANY fruit beside them or together in a paper bag. Next day or maybe in the next few hours (in the case of bananas), you will see the poor fruit ripening really fast.

So what am I trying to drive across here? As I had mentioned earlier, never put the covered box of styrofoam durian straight into the fridge because it is still HOT. When its hot, vapour and condensation will form on the inside of the box and on the durian itself. What will you get? Yeap, wet durians which will deteriorate in quality over night. Remember this, water is durian's best friend but also enemy, in short, water is durian's nemesis. i.e. Johore state suffered from drought this season. But when it gets too rainy, the lower sea level state of Johore will get flooded and durian trees die (as with the case of past 2 seasons) or produce lower quality flesh.

Sorry to digress, anyway, back to the point of durians in the fridge. What you want to do is place the box of durians into the fridge with its cover open. This allows the durian's heat to mix with the coolness of the fridge. Once the durian flesh has acclimatized to the fridge's coolness. Then you close the cover and wait for your yummy treats the next day. This method is tested and proven, dampness is something uncontrollable but this method has thus far worked well for me and my friends.

PS: Hearsay the weather in Pahang state is pretty dry and unpredictable. As such, fewer fruits dropping which will result in slight increase of durian prices. Lets see

Cheers and enjoy!!

 

[Kaki369]

Freshly dropped. Note the whiteness of the stem? It is very sticky as well. Note the firmness and freshness of the stem? Whenever I share, I like to use the example of a Cigar. You wouldn't want a cigar that is limp and creased but one that is firm and fresh ya?

Now.. trivia time! can anyone guess what cultivar is this?

Cheers and enjoy!

 

[jumpmanz]

msw $12/kg good deal?
heard this year crop not as good

 

[Nakedtoes]

i thought overflow of stock... penang selling RM2/kg for red prawn

 

[chocobelle]

msw @rm24 per kg from masai, jb

 

[Kaki369]

i thought overflow of stock... penang selling RM2/kg for red prawn

Where? Which part of Penang? thanks for headsup ah!

 

[tan1688]

msw @rm24 per kg from masai, jb

This seems like big seed ones. combat durian MSW are small seed ones, though more expensive.

 

[Wryer]

Any recommend sellers near Tampines area? I go to a little stall behind the Tampines library. A fruit stall selling assorted fruits and those agar agar. It's not exactly cheap but the quality has been good for me so far. I don't even know the name of the stall!

 

[Kaki369]

msw $12/kg good deal?
heard this year crop not as good

Well thats the market rate now for the less popular stalls. 717, 818, combat, sindy just to name a few charge more as their grades for msw are supposedly more premium. So... good deal there bro!

Cheers and enjoy!

 

[tomb]

...
Now.. trivia time! can anyone guess what cultivar is this?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd....0_10152092207025044_1845161330599889713_n.jpg

Cheers and enjoy!

XO ?

 

[chercm]

any nice durians in the East ?

 

[lovejade]

10 RM a pile ! little india in penang