SM & MM informed us about their visit to Hong Kong for a short trip of two days we were extremely excited. I inquired whether there was anything that they wanted me to purchase in advance.
MM said she wanted my help to get some creams for her (cheaper here than US) and some Si Chuan tofu which I introduced her to last time she was here. What else?
So it was an All Caps emphatic YES to durian.
I’ve been walking past our durian seller daily and noticed a constant display of durian. Curious, I thought as it is now off peak for all durians, including our favourite Mao Shan Wang.
The boss’s wife revealed to me that they have a special arrangement with two farms in Pahang who send them whatever falls from their trees, and now was the best time to eat it as it was at its most flavourful. I was a little suspicious but this fruit seller does get the best fruit in all of WanChai, durian included.
Now MM’s visit presented the most wonderful opportunity to buy one to try. Due to its price, our little household will only buy it as a treat ;).
So on a Saturday evening, after we had spent much of the day walking and enjoying the rare, fine sunshine, I returned to the fruit shop at 6.30pm to collect the durian I had asked them to reserve earlier.
The boss pulled it out of the polystyrene box and presented it to me.
“Lots of flesh this one” he said.
“You sure it’s good?” I asked.
“Definitely good. Guaranteed it’s good!” He confirmed very confidently.
He popped it on the weighing machine. It was 3.1Kg. “400” he said. “Special price.”
So the deal was struck and he asked whether we wanted it opened and boxed, or we could take it in the shell which would be better.
After some deliberation, we decided in shell was probably fine. As long as he did the initial split for us. He left the rubber band on the end and wrapped it carefully in the spongy packaging material then popped it into a little bag. It seemed smaller once I had it in my hands, but well, good durian often feels that way.
I left it at home on the dining table and proceeded out to dinner. During dinner, we intentionally ate a little less to save room for durian.
Here are some photos of our delicious fruit when opened.
You can see that it was a beautifully symmetrical fruit shell, all the better for good fruit contained within. The flesh was a lovely golden yellow and was the perfect texture, not wet and not too dry.
My first bite revealed a slightly fermented champagney sort of flavour which was interesting. The second seed I had from the other side of the shell was of a different taste altogether, more nutty, less of the fermented taste. Isn’t it interesting that the flavours in one fruit can vary so much. It’s nice to be able to discern these flavours, as opposed to eating items made with durian paste, which while tasty, are uniform and not tempting enough for the second dose.
We thoroughly enjoyed this durian, eating roughly 4-5 seeds between us before we declared that we could eat no more.
Worth it?
YES!
(And so much more pleasurable eating with friends)
Dedicated to Durians 