Bored of Musang King? Here are 4 special durians you need to try!

Many durian kakis would be more than happy with a D24, Black Thorn, or Musang King; but sometimes you just want something… different. Something that excites your tastebuds and nostrils in a way the standard popular durians don’t anymore.

Our friends at Grab understand the need for adventure, but also the comfort of sticking to old favorites. That’s why their annual GrabDurian campaign lets you enjoy up to 50% off durians with free delivery on GrabMart, from participating merchants like DurianMan, DKing, Berkeley Durian, Sinnaco Durian Specialist, and more!

So, here are the really special durians you can enjoy from the comfort of home (via GrabMart delivery of course):

IOI Durian (No, nothing to do with the property developer)

Often confused with the D101 durian, the IOI durian is a completely different type that also hails from Johor. It’s smaller in size compared to other durians, but you know what they say about the kecik ones – more ganas.

As the story goes, the original tree grew in the yard of Hajah Hasmah Bte Hj Hashim in Muar. She was perfectly happy giving them to neighbors and relatives for free, turning down many requests to buy the delicious fruit. The reason we’re able to buy it today is thanks to… squirrels.

Y’see, Hajah’s tree was being attacked by squirrels, so she asked a neighbor for help. In return, the neighbor got to keep the durians and branches that fell during the purge. He managed to cultivate his own trees from the fallen branches, which also prompted Hajah to start growing more trees from her “original” one.

It often gets mixed up with the D101 due to its fruity flavor profile and orange hue meat, but comes with a stronger and sweeter punch of flavor. In our taste test, the IOI is bittersweet (but more towards the sweet side) with a predominantly creamy flavor and a drier texture.

Hor Lor, a hidden gem from Penang

While Penang is more well-known for its Red Prawn durian, the Hor Lor is a unique durian in terms of taste, texture, and appearance. “Hor Lor” means “gourd” in Hokkien; which is likely in reference to the fruit’s oblong gourd-like shape. We kinda thought it looked like a small, thorny cempedak at first glance.

The taste is the hardest to describe. If we could sum it up into one word, it’d be “refined”. At first bite, it doesn’t taste like much, but that builds into a layered balance of bitter and sweet. It’s definitely one to slowly enjoy. If you’re with someone who’s new to durians, its less pungent taste profile also makes it a great durian for beginners.

Texture-wise, the meat itself is very firm and the membrane (the layer between the meat and seed) is thick and snappy. If you grew up with kampung or older durian varieties, you’re gonna enjoy the nostalgia.

Mas Hijau – Worth its weight in (green) gold

While Pahang is famous for Musang King, the “Green Gold” durian is definitely an underrated crowd-pleaser. First off, it’s a big boi, dwarfing most other durians in size. The contents are also visually impressive – cracking one open reveals rich golden-yellow meat that just beckons you to dig into it.

But it’s not just about aesthetics. The meat is lavishly thick, velvety, and sticky; with relatively small seeds given the size. If you’re not a fan of bittersweet durian varieties, this one’s for you:

“It has that signature durian taste. Very sweet, barely any bitterness. If I think of durian, this is what I think of.”

– Faiz, Cilisos video editor and durian addict

Beserah Durian is REALLY hard to get

The Beserah durian only comes from one place – Beserah, a fishing village about 8km north of Kuantan. Apparently, the specific combination of soil and terrain is crucial to creating the specific taste, appearance, and aroma of Beserah durians.

Because of its limited quantity and high demand, you’d be really lucky to find one because they’re all booked in advance. Trust us, we couldn’t get it on Grab and all the durian shops we went to said “no stock”, “not in season”, or “see your luck, this one hard to get leh”. We also gave up and beserah diri already.

This scarcity lends to its higher price, between RM40 – RM60 per kg. What you get for that price is a dense, luxurious golden pulp that blends a pleasant sweetness with just a touch of bitterness that’s said to surpass Musang King and Black Thorn.

With GrabDurian, apa saja durian!

Maybe all that durian has made you thirsty. Well, how does a Durian Lassi sound?

Whether you’re a die hard durian devotee or a die-die must try durian explorer, GrabFood also offers a variety of unique durian-based combinations such as a Durian Lassi from Big Singh Chapati, Durian Burger from KGB, or Durian Fried Rice from Cauli and Rice.

So whether you like your durians pure, puréed, or paired with your favorite meal; check out GrabMart and GrabFood for great deals and thorny surprises!