Currently, Musang King is like black-market gold. It’s the most sought after, desired and expensive of all the durian varieties, selling for more than twice the price of average durian.
It’s also the durian most likely to be faked. That’s right: unscrupulous durian vendors will try to pull a fast one on the naive and sell an average durian under the name and price of the famous Musang King. Luckily, all durian varieties have slightly different shapes, colors, and spikes and you can learn to distinguish a true Musang King from a fake. Here are 5 tips to identify a true Musang King, as taught to us by the herself, Tina Chong. Thanks again, Tina!
The most well-known characteristic of Musang King is it’s deep, turmeric yellow flesh.
But Musang King is not the only durian with a dark yellow aril. Check out the picture below. Is it a Musang King or not?
If you can’t tell now, you should be able to after reading the following clues:
1. Shell Color
Durian shells vary pretty widely in color from yellow-brown to camo-green to tinged with purple. Unlike other fruits, the color does not always denote ripeness, but is a characteristic of the variety.
Musang King (left) is a dusky green-tan bordering on yellow. Often the coloration will change between the tips of the thorns and the base. In comparison, D24 is typically a homogenous green.
2. Spike Density and Shape
Spikes can be either far apart or very close together, kind of square and pyramidal, or round and thin as a needle.
In Musang King, the spike is fairly large and pyramidal, set fairly far apart. Compare to the spike of a D24, which clusters
3. Visibility of Seams
All durians open via weakened seams running the length of each lobe from tip to stem. As I mention in How to Open a Durian, I am in totally in love with these seams. They are like the Achilles Heel of the world’s most formidable fruit. On some durians, these seams are visible lines or bands, while on others the seams are invisible.
Musang King’s seams are very visible, meeting on the bottom in a broad five pointed star. Often the spikes will even point away from the seam, creating an effect almost like the opening of the Red Sea. In contrast, the seams on a D24 are practically invisible. The spikes even point toward each other, further hiding the seam beneath a spiky bower.
4. Crown
Another way to identify durian variety is by the shape of the band connecting the stem to the fruit. This is sometimes called the crown. How fitting is that – the King of Fruit has a crown!
As you can see in the picture, the durian on the left has a smooth crown. The spikes face downwards away from it and there’s even a little bit of a gap between the crown and where the spikes start. That’s the Musang King.
In contrast, D24’s crown has spikes growing up and over it, facing upward in jagged imitation of a traditional king’s crown.
5. Stem Length
All durian varieties have different lengths of stem. Some have very long stems, like the variety called Gan Yao in Thailand. Others have stems so short you can barely fit your fingers onto it to pick it up.
Musang King has a relatively long stem, while D24 has a short stem.
In Summary:
When looking over a possible Musang King durian, you’re looking for a green-yellow fruit with a long stem, a very visible tan five-pointed star on the bottom, pyramidal spikes without much space between them, and of course that brilliant yellow flesh.
Now look at the first picture again:
Now what do you think? Musang King or not?
Agro Sejahtera says
hello, that is really nice article about musang king.
Jack says
Thank you for your good info.
I’ve & will learn more about our GREAT Fruit, the Durian~
sl lee says
we can buy frozen musang king in new Zealand, they are packed out of their shell, wrapped in Plastic sheet and placed in paper box.Now the question is how can we tell the fruits are really Musang King, and not some big fraud..
[email protected] says
Hopefully you can now! 🙂
Mao Shan Wang says
Wasting time.
Anonymous says
Hi Lindsay, where is the farm for Mao San King in Malaysia ?
Can we visit the farm and learn how to farming this durian ?
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous, there are many many farms in Malaysia where you can visit and eat Mao San King 🙂
Anonymous says
where i can find list of Musang King farms complete with address ? or could you recommend 🙂
I have planned will visit.
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous, nearly all Malaysian durian orchards now have at minimum a few trees of Musang King, so it is very common. Are you looking for a 100% Musang King farm?
Anonymous says
Morning Lindsay,
Can you recommend which farm (with detail address) has more Musang King trees (i think there will no farm with 100% Musang King durian), and when is the suitable time to visit so I can taste the Musang King learn how to plant this type of durian with the person in charge there.
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous,
Musang King grows in all parts of Malaysia; is there a specific region you will be visiting that is easiest for you? Otherwise I recommend Raub Durian Orchard http://www.yearofthedurian.com/2012/07/raub-durian-orchard.html
Anonymous says
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for your recommendation.
Have visit the facebook of Raub, the durian season has just over 🙁
Is there any orchard still has durian available in November this year ?
Or do you have info durian orchard in Indonesia ? especially in Sumatra and Java
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous, I suggest you send me an email at durianyearATgmail.com or a message on our Facebook page. Thanks.
Anonymous says
Hi Lindsay,
have sent you email.
Redwan says
Musang king is originated from tanah merah,kelantan but if you want to learn musang king, go to gua musang,kelantan
[email protected] says
Actually Musang King originates in Gua Musang. Check out my Gua Musang pages!
Anonymous says
Great post! Very informative. 2015 mid-year durian season is starting again! Yeh!! Last year's was miserable, especially the year-end season. Hope this June-August is a good one!
Lizzy says
I wish i read this before paying $50+ for a durian from Geylang. Thanks for sharing.
jual bibit unggul says
I made a little research on google and the flesh of the durian on this picture really coresponds to Musang King, with its beautifully yellow color. But I found the rind to be rather non-typical for Musang King..
Lindsay Gasik says
thank you for your participation, you are right that the durian in question is actually a Musang King look-alike called Grand Old Lady 🙂
Lindsay Gasik says
thank you for your participation, you are right that the durian in question is actually a Musang King look-alike called Grand Old Lady 🙂
Jual Bibit Durian Unggul says
next season durian i hope go to penang, tank for your information
Durian Bawor says
your explain is very nice, tank you
Durian RAKSASA says
Tank's for your information. very nice and help me to identifiecation musang king and d24
Anonymous says
ah ok, thanks a lot 🙂 thumbs up for ur information 🙂
Anonymous says
yes they have many types of durian there but the most popular is the D22 and the red prawn if you ask musang king maybe they have also,, you may try also to ask black thorn if they have, the most expensive durian than the musang king.
Anonymous says
hi anonymous #2 (hehe) – thanks for reply.. since there is a trip to there.. going to sneak to eat durian while wife and kids are going to legoland (secret but wonderful plan) .. so can only go at johor bahru area.. @lindsay: smart, as in smart at pandan area? are there many types of durian over there? or only musang king?
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous, I am not certain about which area. We were only there a few days but we visited the S-Mart twice, just told the taxi driver to go there. It cost about 12 RM from the bus station to the durian stalls. The stalls were quite large and there were about four of them, if I remember correctly, with many many types of durian.
Anonymous says
so yummy! where is the best place to find musang king at Johor bahru? Im visiting around Johor bahru in october… any recommendation? 🙂
Lindsay Gasik says
There are a whole bunch of stalls near the S-mart. I'm sure you'll find Musang King there 🙂 Let us know if you go!
Anonymous says
the best place where you can find musang king is in penang malaysia at bao sheng durian farm, you can learn a lot there about durian, and he will teach you how to choose a good quality of durian.
Lindsay Gasik says
Hi Anonymous, thanks for your comment. Actually Musang King is not very popular on Penang as it doesn't grow very well. Bao Sheng grows few of them and does not recommend them. If you go to Bao Sheng, remember to ask for what is in season 🙂
Anonymous says
Hi Lindsay, thanks also for your comment. Maybe its true that this kind of durian is not popular in penang or in Bao Sheng its because they kept it as stuff so you must ask this kind of durian But if you go to there market place a lot of musang king they sell there.
Lindsay Gasik says
Thanks for your reply! Yes, you will find Musang King on Penang if you ask for it, but you will then expose yourself as a non-connoisseur 😉
Anonymous says
Ok, NO comment! Im, just sharing my experience since then Im a durian lover.
Lindsay Gasik says
I hope you will get a chance to go back to Penang again and compare the Musang King there to what you are familiar with. I am half-convinced it is a slightly different strain. Will look forward to hearing your opinion!
Anonymous says
actually it is easy to identify musang king the clue is, the shape of the starfish below. Only musang king have that.
Zainal Arifin says
Yes, it's Mousang King
Ron Foo says
It's Red Prawn. Look at the thorns so short & far apart & how far apart are the 2 rows of durians.
Anonymous says
The first photo demonstrated the fellow who took this photo don't know how to open an durian.
Lindsay Gasik says
It was a lady, and I promise she is quite experienced opening durian 🙂
Lindsay Gasik says
I haven't seen Musang King being sold in Thailand. I know for certain that they don't grow it in Thailand, but you might be able to find it in the frozen section at large, upscale supermarkets. I'll have to look around. My guess though, is that the Thais are proud/happy enough with their own durians, which they can get fresh, to bother with Malaysian durians.
ImNaDeWa says
Is it possible to find Musang King in Thailand and if yes, where? Maybe in bangkok or Chanthaburi?
Thank you!
Lindsay Gasik says
Hanka, Vlk, and Florida Green Man, you are all right!
This durian is NOT Musang King. It is a variety that is very similar called "Grand Old Lady" or Lao Tai Po.
Please email me your mailing address to [email protected] and I'll put a patch of your choice in the mail. Thanks for playing along!
Hanka says
It is not a Musang King 🙂
Lindsay Gasik says
Two of you are right….who's wants to be the third and final winner?
Vlk says
I made a little research on google and the flesh of the durian on this picture really coresponds to Musang King, with its beautifully yellow color. But I found the rind to be rather non-typical for Musang King.. Very confusing. 🙂 I am curious for the results. 🙂
Lindsay Gasik says
There aren't three correct answers yet…so I'm going to let this run a little longer before declaring the winners 🙂
FlordaGreenMan says
I say No…it is not Musang King
Domenic108 says
Musang King!
Vlk says
I think it is D24. 🙂 I have a question please, is Musang King the same as Mao Shan Wang?
Anonymous says
Yup is the same
Anne says
Cappi and I think Musang King!