This is a snippet from my new book, The Durian Tourist’s Guide to Penang, Malaysia, in the “Identifying Durians” chapter. The book has information just like this about 21 varieties of durian that you can find in Penang!
Black Thorn (D200)
Registered in 2013
Other Names: Black Thorn, Duri Hitam, Ochee, Hei Tze
When: Late Season, typically late July or early August
This new darling of the durian scene can out-price even Musang King with its rosy, flame-colored corpulence. It’s new even to Penang Island, since it originates on the mainland side of Penang State. To get really old-tree durians you have to drive over the bridge.
The Black Thorn mother tree originates in Kampung Lima Kongsi, near Sungai Bakap, just a bit to the south of the second bridge to the island. It was a secret for years, a popular tree with a waiting list every season since the tree’s owner, Bagi Kau, refused to propagate it.
Bagi Kau had brought the seed back from a durian he ate in Thailand. Which one is unknown.
“It took me two years to taste that fruit,” says Heng Mee Oo (Ah Heng), who now owns one of the biggest Black Thorn orchards in Malaysia with close to 6,000 Black Thorn trees.
Then in the mid-1980s, Bagi Kau permitted his friend, Mr. Leow Cheok Keong, to plant seedlings at his farm in Nibong Tebal, establishing the first commercial orchard. But Mr. Leow says that when the trees first started dropping fruits, he was unimpressed. The durian was sweet and pasty, a pale berry rosé that lacked the luscious cream and slightly alcoholic sparkle of an old-tree Black Thorn. He kept the trees, but didn’t invest in more — at least not right away.
Meanwhile, around the year 2000, Ah Heng finally tasted the durian and made his decision. He chopped down his D24 orchard and grafted the mature stumps with Black Thorn.
The trees began dropping a few years later. At the time, his son was working at the Genting Highlands Resort, near Kuala Lumpur. The director happened to visit the family’s farm and loved Mr. Heng’s Black Thorn so much he requested Ah Heng to come set up a durian stall in the resort’s car park. In 2010, he and his Black Thorn durians were featured in a media flurry over the “new” durian variety. A fad was starting.
Around the same time, Mr. Leow was realizing that his Black Thorns had matured into something pretty special. In 2011, he entered the Penang State Durian competition, and won first prize. He won first prize again in 2012, and in 2013 MARDI officially entered Black Thorn into the registry as D200, citing Mr. Leow’s farm as the source.
Today Mr. Leow and Mr. Heng are good friends, not competitors.
Mr. Heng opens his hilltop orchard to durian fanatics willing to take the wild ride, and Mr. Leow sells his durians at a stall in Nibong Tebal.
They both sell Black Thorn at the Jawi Durian Festival in late July or early August.
How to Recognize Black Thorn
Black Thorn varies a lot in terms of size, but can be recognized by it’s perfectly plump pumpkin shape and squat little stem, about as long as a thumb. The bottom has a little belly-button indent that protects the durian’s dried up flower stamen from breaking off as it grows, creating a blackened “thorn” that protrudes and gives the durian its name.
Inside, the Black Thorn has a rosy, orange hue that can vary from pastel to flame depending on the age of the tree. A signature mark is a thick core with a rust-colored “drain” or line running down the middle. The flesh is rounded and mounded and incredibly thick, and even when the tree is old, the wrinkles are small and delicate, the thin and easily broken skin stretched tightly over the corpulent mounds of flesh.
How to Visit Ah Heng and Mr. Leow
Find Ah Heng’s Serene Orchard and Mr. Leow on the map below.
Ah Heng now offers his Black Thorn durian by Delivery at https://durianrepublic.com
Richard Lee says
To all black thorn durian lovers out there, now you get to place online order by using following link to get a taste of Mr Heng’s Black Thorn Durian at Durian Republic.
https://durianrepublic.com/products/black-thorn-durian
Note:
Many thanks to Lindsay Gasik. I wish to have the book to be signed by you one day if I get the chance to meet you.
I’ve never tasted anything like this black thorn before. The black thorn taste so good to me.
Jess says
Why no answer on where is mr Heng phone number n addresd
Hamidi says
I was wondering if you send to overseas for personal consumption?
Lindsay says
Hi Hamidi, please get in touch directly with Ah Heng
EC Lee says
Pls update me of Jawi Mr Leow Orchi durian when is the season start ? Any contact number to buy from him coz MCO not able to travel as I’m from Alor Setar
Lindsay says
Make sure to check the free Map and also the Durian App for updated info and contact #’s 🙂
SOOK-LAN LOH says
I love durian!!! Never have black thorn and would like to try. I made a durian trip from USA to Penang early July 2019 for black thorn, but it was too late. Please let me know the season in 2020 to visit Mr Heng Orchard. I will make another trip again. Thank you very much!
[email protected] says
Hi Sook, make sure to download our App this year to find out when Ah Heng’s Farm will be in season 🙂
Ric says
Will be going to Penang Around August 30. May i ask for the address please ?
Kristine says
Will be in Penang in July . Can I have your address please .
Tq
Lim C Tick. says
Be most happy to know where can I buy the book.Many thanks.
Hendry Low says
Hi, may I have Mr Leow stall address in Nibong Tebal as we will be gg there middle of July. Thanks
Tina says
Yes. I love to have the address. Please email me.
Jenny says
Mr Heng
We will be in Penang from 5/7/19 to 7/7/19 and would like to know where is your durian orchard in Penang as we would like to try the Black Thorn variety?
Durian Kawan
Ahmad kamal says
I’m going to Penang island this Friday 21/6. Please let me know the black thorn durian farm on the island where we can eat and buy to bring back to KL. Ty
[email protected] says
Hi Ahmad, please send me an email to [email protected] with all personal questions 🙂
Sheryn choong says
I do events for journalists, n sometime order bulk to event venue. Can I have mr heng contact pls.
My company is Euroscale sdn bhd. You can Facebook us.
Lilian says
Hi there,
We be there on 5July to 7July, please advise is there any black thorn available at this date
[email protected] says
yes
Lilian says
Hi there,
We be there on 5July to 7July, please advise is there any black thorn available at this date
Jenny khoo says
Hi, do you do delivery to Penang for your black thorn durian?
Joanne says
Hi Sir, can you share with me your the location of yr durian orchard? I would like to try on the black thorn. When is the best time to go?
Alan says
Hi sir, I never try black thorn durian.
And I would like to go to the farm and eat this durian. My I have your address so I can visit you there?
Thanks
[email protected] says
Hi Alan, you should get in touch with Ah Heng directly to book a visit to his farm 🙂
Benjamin Yeo says
I had tried all types of durian and is very curious about Black Thorn. As you claimed that it is better then Mao Shan Wang, I would like to know when is the best time to visit your plantation or stall this year? Can you also send me your address.
Thank you.
Sreetharan V says
I love durians especially new ones
Christine says
I will be in Penang on7/7with some friends from Hong Kong. Please give address of durian orchard that we can visit to taste the different kinds of Syrians and black thorn.Thanks.
Chai Lan says
Please email me when the black thorns season is here!
THAM FOONG CHOOI says
I am planning to go Nibong Tebal to enjoy Ochee(black thorn).
Kindly advise where is the stall in Nibong Tebal…
Lee says
I enjoy the black thorn from Jawi. However, similar black thorn from Sg Dua is different.
Robert rantai says
Very comprehensive one. The durian was explained in detail. Even most locals can not desribe the characteristic of different durians. Including me..thumbs up!!!
[email protected] says
Thank you for your support 🙂
Lucy says
What the contact addressdetails for original blackthorn farmer
Ating says
I love durian