Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main season April–August. It is harvested all year, but quantity and price can change with the season and the 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 spiny husk is rich yellow flesh. It is a fruit where you take a bite of soft, sweet flesh and notice the aroma and taste together. If it is your first time, start at a seller that offers 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 April–August
Listed as harvested all year
Sisaket volcanic soil durian: harvest listed May–June
Use the main season, or the harvest period of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual harvests can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
Its features are a sweet, rich taste and creamy flesh. The firmness and aroma of the flesh vary with the variety, such as Monthong and Chanee, and with how ripe it is.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thai durian varieties such as Monthong, Chanee and Kan Yao are well known. Its strong smell and sweet, rich flesh make it a fruit that people feel very differently about. You can eat it as fruit or enjoy it in ice cream and desserts.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ทุเรียน
- Harvest period
- Main season April–August
- Regional fruit
- Sisaket volcanic soil durian: harvest listed May–June
- How to buy
- First ask whether the price is per kg of whole fruit including the husk or per kg of prepared flesh. If you want to take it to a hotel or onto transport, check the rules on bringing it in first.
How to prepare 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 ask for the variety, the ripeness and the price including the husk, and then have it cut for you.
- Take out the large seeds and eat the flesh. Before carrying durian to your lodging, check whether it is allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a price per tray?
First ask whether the price is per kg of whole fruit including the husk or per kg of prepared flesh. If you want to take it to a hotel or onto transport, check the rules on bringing it in first.
Keep exploring
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
Sharing image credit: مانفی · CC BY-SA 4.0