Can I not buy it out of season?
It is listed as Main season Apr–Aug. It is available all year round, but quantity and price can change with the season and variety. The calendar does not guarantee that the fruit is on sale on any given day.
Durian
Durian · ทุเรียน
If its strong smell has made you hesitate, you can still try just a little durian. Inside the thorny rind is rich, yellow flesh. You taste the smooth, sweet flesh and its aroma together in one bite. If it is your first time, start at a place that sells a small amount of flesh rather than buying a whole fruit.
Durian in black · مانفی · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 4.0
When is the best time to eat it?
Main season Apr–Aug
Listed as available all year round
Durian of the Sisaket volcanic area: season listed as May–Jun
Use the main season, or the season of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can vary with growing area, variety and weather.
What does it taste like?
Its character is a sweet, rich taste and creamy flesh. The firmness and smell of the flesh differ with variety, such as Monthong and Chanee, and with ripeness.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thai durian varieties such as Monthong, Chanee and Kan Yao are well known. Because of its strong smell and sweet, rich flesh, it is also a fruit on which tastes divide sharply. You can eat it as it is, or enjoy it in ice cream and desserts.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ทุเรียน
- Season
- Main season Apr–Aug
- Regional fruit
- Durian of the Sisaket volcanic area: season listed as May–Jun
- How it is sold
- First ask whether the price tag is per kg of whole fruit including the rind or per kg of prepared flesh. If you want to take it to a hotel or on transport, it is better to check the rules on bringing it in first.
How to peel and eat it
- If it is your first time, buy a small amount of flesh and taste it.
- If you choose a whole fruit, it is easier to get the variety, the ripeness and the price including the rind, and then ask for it to be prepared.
- Leave out the large stone and eat the flesh. Before taking durian to your lodging, check whether it can be brought in.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a per-pack price?
First ask whether the price tag is per kg of whole fruit including the rind or per kg of prepared flesh. If you want to take it to a hotel or on transport, it is better to check the rules on bringing it in first.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.
Sharing image credit: مانفی · CC BY-SA 4.0