Penang Red Prawn | Durian Porn

There are many durian varieties in Penang worthy of little screams of excitement, but first and foremost among them is Red Prawn. Scroll down for more pictures.

In Penang, the price of Red Prawn (D175)  rivals the very expensive Musang King, up to 30 RM per kilo. But it doesn’t grow well anywhere else in Malaysia, which is why in Johor or Pahang it is sold for the price of other medium-quality durians. In Penang, Red Prawn is the variety durian growers keep for themselves.

The durian flesh is pale orange bordering on a ginger grey. It is soft, incredibly delicate, and each seed is engulfed in a silky layer of pure cream.  Of all the durians, Red Prawn has the least fiber, and manages to combine all the flavors possible in a durian – fruity, floral, chocolate-toffee-caramel, vanilla wine, and a minty coolness – into one gestalt experience. It lights up every surface of the tongue, wrapping around it and settling in a burnt sweetness into the wet hollow under the tongue.

If Shakespeare could get a taste of this durian, he would write sonnets for it.

From the outside, Red Prawn is a dusky brown durian with petite spikes arranged in neat rows. It often looks slightly grey, as if a thin layer of silver dust had settled on the skin. It can be as large as 2 kilos, although these large fruits are typically from young trees and not of the best quality. For the best Red Prawn, look for fruits around 1 kg.

Despite Red Prawn’s high price and it’s immense popularity, farmers rarely plant it nowadays in favor of newer trending durians like D24 or Musang King. The problem with Red Prawn, which contributes to it’s rarity, is that the fruit has a very low fruit set. This means that out of however many flowers the tree produces each year, only a few mature into fruits.

To get a taste of Red Prawn, head to Penang toward the end of the durian season. Red Prawn develops more slowly than most durians, meaning that it’s peak dropping will happen toward the tail-end of the season. Check Bao Sheng’s schedule for an idea of the approximate dates.

Happy hunting!