Tips and Tricks When Looking For a Good Durian in Singapore

Considered the smelliest fruit in the world, durian is popular among Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore. The durian season in Singapore usually starts from June to September, but there is extra supply between December and February. You can see different variants including D13, D24 Sultan, Golden Phoenix, Mao Shan Wang, Black Thorn, and many more.

But durian is more than a smelly fruit. With a sprinkle of creativity and some cooking skills, you can turn it into interesting food items like a smoothie, cupcakes, egg tarts, chiffon cake, ice cream, and a lot more.

If you are planning to hoard this heavenly fruit, check out this article as we bring you some tips on how to pick a fresh durian in Singapore.

Check the Stem Area

The easiest way to determine the freshness of durians in Singapore is through scratching the fruit’s stem using your fingertips.

If the stem has a darker color, it means that the fruit is days old. On the other hand, green stems indicate that the fruit has been harvested for not more than 24 hours. Make sure not to purchase a durian with a missing stem even if the seller insists as stemless durians mean poor quality.

Quantifying the Shape

Another indicator of a good durian in Singapore is its shape. To get the fruit with an optimal flavor, avoid buying the bigger ones because durian tastes better if it weighs around 1.5 kilos to 2 kilos only.

Durians with oblong or irregular shape are likely more aromatic and tastier compared to the perfectly round ones, which are usually less fleshy.

Curved and crescent-shaped durians may also taste sweet with fewer chambers.

Get A Whiff of Its Smell

Durian is known for its powerful odor that is why it is banned across all public transports in Singapore including taxis. However, its smell is helpful in differentiating whether the fruit is ripe or not.

Sniff the seams of the fruit or near the stem to know the difference. You can tell a durian is already mature when it has an intensifying odor like the green leaves. If you smell a slightly pungent odor, it indicates a bitter flavor. Meanwhile, an overpowering odor is a sign of an overripe durian.

Notice the Color and Appearance

When the seller cuts open the durian, check its color and identify its variant as durians in Singapore come in various types.

For instance, Mao Shan Wang and Black Pearl variants should have a bright yellow shade. Be careful not to pick those with greyish tinges. For other breeds, the sweetness depends on how red the flesh is. Do not forget to use gloves when touching the flesh.

A fully ripe durian should have a soft, springy, and slightly sticky with a custard-like texture. You may also ask sellers if you can have a free sample to know the quality of durian.