If you’re wondering what does durian taste like or thinking about trying it for the first time, keep reading. I’ll walk you through all of the different types of durian, durian varieties, what to expect in terms of durian smell, and which durian types are best for beginners.
What Does Durian Taste Like?
The controversial "king of fruits" has a pungent smell and a fleshy but creamy interior that is loved by some and reviled by others. The taste of durian is a complex mix of sweet, savoury, and creamy notes. Also, something that many newbies to this fruit don't know, is that the taste of durian will vary depending on which durian type you try. Experienced durian lovers will usually go for a more pungent durian, whereas a beginner should choose a milder and sweeter type of durian.
Does Durian Taste Like Fruit?
Most foreigners hate durian when they try it for the first time and I truly believe that this is because they are expecting durian to taste like a fruit. On the contrary, durian is not like any other fruit. It is truly unique. Instead, I encourage people to think of it like they are trying blue cheese for the first time or wine for the first time. It is an acquired taste that is developed over time. If introduced properly, you can truly start to love this fruit!
What is the texture of durian like?
Many foreigners hate durian because of its fleshy meat and creaminess. Do not expect the texture to be like a mango or any other fruit you have tried. Instead, I would describe the texture like a baked pumpkin or a block of cream cheese.
The Different Types of Durian
Firstly, there are so many different types of durian but I will summarise the most popular as well give recommendations on which ones you should try.
The Musang King
Among the most renowned types is the Musang King, celebrated for its pungent flavour and ultra creaminess. Its popularity has transcended borders, earning it a reputation as one of the most sought-after durian varieties globally. Despite its popularity, I would not consider the Musang King a good beginner durian. It is extremely pungent and very creamy. Instead I would recommend a sweeter variety.
Recommended Types of Durian For The Experienced Durian Lover
Aside from the famous Musang King, some other durian types that are known for their extreme pungent aroma and creaminess include:
- Black Thorn. The Black Thorn is rival to the famous Musang King and in recent years has even outgrown the Musang King in popularity in Malaysia! If you love the Musang King then you will love the Black Thorn!
- D24: A popular premium durian variety that is a great cheaper alternative to the Musang King or the Black Thorn
- XO: This durian variety is named after the XO liquor because it has a slightly bitter, alcoholic taste caused by the fermentation inside the shell. It is for serious durian lovers only!
- Musang King: the most sought after durian variety in the world!
Great Beginner Durian Varieties
If it's your first durian, then I highly recommend you skip the famous (and pungent) Musang King, and go for a more sweet and milder flavoured durian. Great beginner options include:
- Udang Merah
- D13
- Kampung Durian
- ioi / 101 Durian
- Red Prawn
The above are good beginner durians because they are known to be less pungent, still creamy but not quite as fleshy or meaty in texture as the "experienced durian lover durian types". These durians are also known to have a much sweeter and milder flavour. I have personally tried the Udang Merah, D13, and the ioi durian. If its your first time I would highly recommend finding the D13, Udang Merah or the ioi (in that order of preference).
The Smell of Durian
One of the defining characteristics of durian is its potent aroma. The scent of durian can be been described as a blend of ripe, tropical fruits with underlying hints of onions and fermented notes. However, those that hate the smell have been known to describe it as a "sewerage smell".
Whilst I use to hate the smell, after living in Asia for some time now, I no longer find the smell like sewerage and would rather describe it as an overripe fruit smell. Nether-less, even those who love durian will often agree that the smell is not pleasant. Strangely enough, when you hold the durian flesh up to your nose it does not smell!
Why Do I Know So Much About Durian?
If you don't know already, I’m an Australian expat living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I've been living in South East Asia for 7+ years (since 2017 between Singapore and Malaysia). Although, I only really gave durian a proper go about three years ago (2022)—and since then, I’ve become slightly obsessed. I've started sharing my durian adventures on TikTok and Instagram and I've also fallen in love with getting others to try it too! I have several trying durian vlogs including:
- My family trying the Udang Merah for the first time (and liking it!)
- My family trying the ioi / 101 durian for the first time (and hating it!)
- My family trying the Musang King for the first time (mixed reactions!)
- My friends trying the Musang King for the first time (and hating it!)
- And another failed attempt for trying durian with my family
My Experience With Durian
The first time I tried durian was on a road side stall in Singapore and not surprisingly, I hated it! If you are tourist in a foreign country, DO NOT DO THIS! Durian should only be eaten fresh. You want to go somewhere where you pick the durian and they open it in front of you. (This is what I did for my first (real) durian experience).
Cooking With Durian
Not only do I love discovering and tasting tropical fruits, but I also enjoy cooking with them! Some of my favourite durian recipes include durian ice cream and durian sticky rice. I also love cooking with durian’s close cousin, jackfruit. You can check out my popular jackfruit sorbet and jackfruit ice cream recipes. And, if you’re a fan of jackfruit, you’ll also love cempedak! Which, is also part of the durian family. Some of my most popular cempedak recipes include my cempedak ice cream and cempedak breakfast cake.
More Asian Tropical Fruits
If you're curious about exotic tropical fruits in Asia, you might also enjoy my guide to 12 must-try Asian fruits, which features delicious tropical fruits like rambutan, papaya, and dragonfruit. You might also be interested in the tropical fruits that you should try in Thailand too!
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