Durians are undeniably a favorite among Southeast Asians, especially Singaporeans. If you’ve had them since childhood, you’ve probably waited for your parents to bring some durians home and pry them open. But as you grow older, you can’t always depend on your parents to make the choice. So, you must grow up and learn to choose durians like an expert. However, selecting the durians can be daunting when purchasing from experienced durian sellers.
You can ensure you have basic knowledge about durians when selecting them yourself. You won’t have to rely on the sellers, and they won’t be able to scam you into buying old durians so that they can clear their stocks. Besides, you’ll be helping to rid the market of durian sellers who want to make a profit regardless. Durians are a priced commodity in Singapore, which makes the price range vary according to breed, origin, and demand. If the price is too reasonable to be accurate, the seller likely wants your money.
Durian scams aside, it’s essential to pick the right durian to suit your taste. There are various types of durians as they differ in terms of taste and look. Some people like it sweet, while some like it bitter. Most Singaporeans prefer the Mao Shan Wang Durian, also known as Musang King Durian. It has a rich, sweet, and sometimes bitter flavor. At the same time, the Jin Feng Durian has a robust and complex taste, which produces a mild alcoholic flavor. If you like eating bitter-sweet durians with a strong alcoholic taste, the XO Durian is for you. Remember that these are just a few types of durians popular among Singaporeans.
So, how do you pick and choose durians like an expert? These tips will help you pick the right durian without being scammed.
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Choose Durians: Check the durian stem
Try to scratch the durian stem gently with your fingertips. If it’s greenish with brown edges, you’ve hit the jackpot – fresh durians – the ones that fell off the tree in the past 24 hours. The stems will likely be darker if the durians are harvested before their natural cycle. Avoid stemless durians as some sellers may try to sell poor quality durians as good quality ones. Besides, you’ll want to do the scratch test yourself as some durian sellers will use the knife, which defeats the purpose of you checking the stem.
Use your sense of smell
Known as the most intense fruit, durians exude a strong smell depending on its ripeness. You can ask the seller to hold the fruit up or hold it in your hands (gloves, of course!). Could you take a whiff along the top part of the durian? If you smell it from the bottom, it’ll be difficult to tell the ripeness as the husk is thicker than at the top. Generally, if it smells sweet, the durian is ripe. If there’s hardly any smell from the durian, it’s unripe. Likewise, it’s overripe if the durian exudes a strong and intense smell.
Examine the shape
It’s common to notice the shape of the fruit before buying it. Likewise, you should apply the same principle when selecting durians. But getting perfectly round or oval durians won’t guarantee fleshy meat. Give odd-shaped durians a chance, as they may taste as good with fewer chambers and flesh-covered seeds.
Sound the durian
If you noticed, durian sellers often toss the fruit around and tap it with a knife. They do that to check which part of the fruit is ripe. When they do that, you should listen to tapping sounds. You can also shake the fruit and listen for any movement. If you don’t hear any sound, the durian may be underripe or overripe, while fresh durians will rattle.
Appearance of the durian
We rely heavily on our sight when deciding whether the food is fresh or has gone bad. Likewise, the colour of the durian flesh will tell whether it’s sweet or bitter. Depending on the type of durian you choose, the flesh can be yellow, bright yellow, pale yellow, or yellowish orange. You can check the colour by asking the seller to pry the durian. Besides, it’s also important to check the colour of the husk so that you’ll be getting fresh durians. If you see a hint of yellow on the husk, don’t purchase it, as it may be days old.
Do your homework
Before buying something at the physical or online store, you’ll do some research to assure yourself that it’s worth your money. The same goes for choosing durians. If you never try, you’ll never know. You’ve got to try the different types of durian before deciding on one that suits your taste buds. If the seller is on the online bandwagon, you can search for reviews left by the customers.
Sometimes, you want to enjoy the fruit with your family and friends without leaving the house and stinking the car. If you rely on public transport, it’s more likely that you won’t be allowed to carry it onboard. So, how can you satisfy your durian cravings?
There are durian delivery services in Singapore, one being Durian Express Delivery. Before clicking that ‘Proceed to Checkout’ button, be sure to know your type of durian. Pick a delivery time that is not more than 3 hours so that you’ll get fresh durians. Depending on your order, the seller may impose a minimum delivery fee for the fruit’s weight. It’s best to check for these fees before ordering your durians. Besides, knowing the origin of your durians will also pay off regarding the taste and pricing. Look for durian delivery services with good customer service so you’ll have a good experience after every order.
Durian Express Delivery is a reliable and experienced service provider that provides exquisite quality durians island-wide to your home or office on the same day. We keep prices low with our solely owned durian plantation in Pahang, Malaysia. We specially handpick the durians to ensure their quality and freshness before delivering them to your doorstep to enjoy with your family and friends. Have a durian craving? Get it settled now! Call us at +65 8116 8890 or email us at [email protected].
