03/07/2016

Singapore Durian Varieties

Indonesian Thornless Durian


Singaporeans eat more durian per capita than any durian producing nation. That, combined with the high value of the Singapore dollar, is changing the face of the durian industry as durian producers seek to capitulate to Singaporean tastes.

As much as 90% of the durian in Singapore originates in Malaysia, it’s northern neighbor. While Malaysia has two hundred registered durian varieties, only two are regularly sent to Singapore: Mao Shan Wong (aka Musang King) and D24. As more and more farmers in Malaysia eager to cash in on Singapore favorites convert their trees to Mao Shan Wong and D24, other varieties are becoming more rare. Recently, a movement initiated by Leslie Tay of ieatishootipost.sg and Shann Goh of 717 Trading seeks to educate Singaporeans about the value and pleasure of having many varieties. The future of Malaysian durian diversity depends on the Singaporean durian consumer! You have a responsibility! (So go eat more durian)

Unbeknownst to most, Singapore also has its own durian varieties. In addition to the various wild durian still found today in the last forested regions, this fantastic durian resource notes that Singapore has three of its own registered durian varieties.
  • H.C. Tan No.2  is a light green, pear-shaped fruit with medium length spine and averages 1-2 kg. The aril is thin but creamy, sweet with some bitterness. The seeds are shrunken and flat.
  • H. C. Lim has elongated oval fruits, brownish with medium length spines and weigh between 1-2 kg . The aril is pink, thin sweet, not fibrous enclosing small seeds.
  • Lim Keng Meng has globose fruits, weigh between 1-2 kg, brownish with medium length spines. The aril is yellow, medium thick, creamy and bitter-sweet.
Unfortunately, these fruits can only be found in agriculture parks and research centers and are not for sale.

related:
Singapore Durian Guide
Finding Wild Durians on Pulau Ubin | Singapore
Geylang Durian
The Top 10 Durian Blogs

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Durian Seasons In Durian Production Areas
The N.E. Monsoon (Oct-March) and S.W.  Monsoon (April-Sept) play a pivotal role in the durian production cycle

The common durian (Durio zibethinus L.) and many tropical fruit trees require a dry spell of about one to two months for flowers to initiate and develop fully into fruits. In South East Asia where the durian is "The King of Fruits", the durian production season is greatly influence by the north-east and south-west monsoons. In between the wet monsoons is the dry weather that triggers the matured durian trees to develop flower buds on healthy lateral branches. It usually takes about four weeks for the buds to develop fully into perfect flowers.

Durian flowers are borne in clusters of  3–10 flowers over a period of about two to four weeks during the dry season.  The durian has a high rate of self-incompatibility and it is normal to get 20% to 25% fruit-set. Thus, cross-pollination is essential to obtaining good crops. Fruit development usually takes 95–130 days, depending on the cultivar. The tree must receive just enough water for proper fruit development.. Too much water will cause the tree to bear new leaves at the expense of the fruits. Under normal conditions, fruit ripening heralds the start of the rainy season.

The durian season in the major durian-growing countries of Thailand, West Malaysia and Indonesia generally peaks in the middle of the year around June-July as shown in the chart below:
Durian season in durian-growing areas in South East Asia including northern Australia

Durian Season In Thailand
Durian Season In West Malaysia
Durian Season In East Malaysia
Durian Production In Indonesia
Durian Production In The Philippines
Durian Production In Vietnam
Durian Production In Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
Durian Production In Brunei Darussalam
Durian Production In Singapore
Durian Production In Australia
Durian Cultivation In Papua New Guinea
Durian Production In Sri Lanka
Durian Production In India

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related:
Hail the King of Fruits
The King of Fruits in Space
A Rotting Durian Fruit Smelled So Bad
Wild Durians From East Malaysia - Sabah & Sarawak‏