Year of the Durian

Malaysia 2019 Durian Season Guide

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Oops. It’s already May, and if it were any other normal durian year, durians would be dropping in Malaysia and I’d be apologizing to all you durian munchers for being so tardy in releasing the Malaysia 2019 Durian Guide. Luckily durians are late this year too.

Keep scrolling down to see lists of recommended durian farms to visit in May, June, July, August, September and even October 😱 of 2019↓ ↓ ↓

The D on the 2019 Malaysia Durian Season

The season is really late in Penang. Last year (2018) durian started dropping hella early in Penang, with the first drop on March 10. This year, as of May 4 there is still no durian falling on Penang and none expected to fall for another 10-14 days (Steven Chua is likely to be the earliest, but we’ll see who wins that race). The season in Penang won’t really kick off till 2nd week of June.

It’s a little bit late almost everywhere. If Penang is a lot late this year, everywhere else is just a little late. Even Johor’s farms (usually 1-2 weeks after Penang season) are deferring to late June or July this year. I

The season is almost the same everywhere. The delayed season in Penang means that durians will start falling at almost the same time all over Malaysia. Usually the season starts a month earlier in Penang (like late April and early May) and then creeps its way over the mountains into Pahang and Perak by mid-June to July, but this year the durian season will arrive abruptly and in abundance.

There will be LOTS OF DURIAN 🎉🥳🎉The arrival of a season *all at once* will create a glut. Not that there is actually MORE durian than last year — in fact it’s about half-half between farmers who are expecting a bumper crop and farmers who are expecting a fewer fruits than last year. It’s just all gonna be dropping at the same time, flooding the market and creating an abundance of good quality durian to eat.

Prices will be average to lower than last year. This glut will keep prices nice and low. Awesome for durian eaters, sucky for durian farmers — who have not only less quantity than other years, but a flooded market with lowish prices (so give your farmers some extra love in 2019).

Almost everywhere will have durian in JULY. July is going to be an amazing time to come to Malaysia. Almost everywhere will have durian available, meaning you can bop around the country tasting to your heart’s delight. That’s what we’ll be doing on my Malaysia Durian Tours.

It’s going to last all the way through August and maybe onwards into the unknown. As I’m writing, durian trees are *still* flowering. We’re not sure exactly how long this season is gonna last, but likely there will be durian almost everywhere (including Penang) throughout the whole month of August and in some places till the beginning weeks of September.

Keep scrolling down to see lists of recommended durian farms to visit in May, June, July, August and September of 2019↓ ↓ ↓

Malaysia Durian Tours in 2019

This year I’m hosting two kinds of events in Malaysia, my personal favorite durian tour of all the regional durians of Malaysia — guess which one that is — and a new short but intense deep dive for the ultra-durian obsessed in Penang, Malaysia.

Click the links below to find out the details, or send me an email to [email protected]

3 Days Penang Durian School

10 Days All Malaysia Tour

Last week of May/ Early June

Durian desperate, aren’t we?

Penang: Durian will be scarce (ahem expensive) until the middle part of June, but most durian stalls will be open in George Town by middle of May. Steven Chua will likely have the first few drops in about 10 days from now (May 14-15) and the season will start from there.

Malacca: The durian season normally arrives earlier in the low-lying flatlands of Malacca, but only one farm has reported having durian in June. That’s Ah Heng’s Durian Stall, who recommends starting the season with a D13 appetizer.

Pahang: Early season Musang King has apparently already arrived (as of May 6) in the Raub area, especially in Sungai Klau and Sungai Ruan. However these farms to plan to open by the end of May if not slightly earlier.

Negeri Sembilan This hilly area is expecting to have durian by early June, but recommends coming in late June for the best durian experiences. Visit:

Late June & Thru July

And finally the promised abundance is arriving. JOM! Let’s Eat!

By the 2nd week of June, *most* durian farms all over Malaysia will be open and ready to feed you hungry durian munchers. This is the spike, the super bump, that we saw in the graph above ↑↑

You can go almost anywhere in July and find durian. You’ll basically be tripping over them, so watch your toes!

Penang:

Pahang:

Negeri Sembilan

Sarawak & Sabah Yup, you’re reading that right. It’s durian season again in the Malaysian Part of Borneo. Kiulu Durian Farm is expecting a heavy season in July,

Late July & August

The durian season just isn’t gonna stop this year.

And don’t forget that wild durian species like Durio oxleyanus and Durio graveolens will start dropping in Broga Hills and Hulu Langat in August.

Penang: Yes! There will still be durian in Penang in August! Not the dumptruck loads of durian we will see in July, but the season will likely still be strong in August. Any of these farms will likely still be open for visitors:

If you haven’t heard about it yet, the Durian Expo in Kuala Lumpur at the end of July that promises to be the largest event for durian lovers EVER. Possible, since I’m not sure how many events specifically designed for durian lovers there have been.

I’ll be giving two talks at this event (A Virtual Tour of Penang, and A Virtual Tour of Pahang). If you would like to come, you can register here.

Sarawak & Sabah The durian season starts peaking in Late July and August in some parts of Malaysian Borneo. There will even be a durian festival on August 17th, 2019, in Tenom! See you there?

Brunei

September and Beyond

With durian trees still flowering NOW, as of writing, there’s no knowing when this durian season will finish, or how abruptly.

However, some farms are expecting their heaviest fruiting at the end of August to early October. Here are a few places that are expecting a very late season this year:

Pahang

Malaysia Durian Hunting Map

For more durian hunting inspiration, check out this sweet map of durian farms all around Malaysia. Each pin is connected to a blog post so you can see what I found there, where I stayed, and how I traveled there.

Comments

  2. Ian Malik says

    It is now approaching mid-December (2019) and I have just enjoyed a feast of the most delicious Musang King and D24 at SS2 in KL. The average cost was RM70 and RM40 per Kg respectively. I have no idea from which part of Malaysia they came from, but as an addict I consider the quality to be outstanding!!

    Reply

  4. David Price says

    Hi Lindsay,
    This is a note to document my heartfelt thanks for your three-day durian tour of Penang last July for my wife and me. You put together what was among the best experiences of my nearly 7 decades! Your tour and related e-book provided so much to enjoy that I found both intellectual as well as sensory perceptions nearly overwhelmed! The one addition to the tour that I would’ve liked personally is for you to have serenaded us with a few minutes on a fiddle (but that’s perhaps not what your other tour members might appreciate as much as I)!! Say hello to all your “Group” with whom you work. ‘Much success and happiness in your life ahead.
    Thanks Again and Be Well,
    -David Price

    Reply

  5. FDC says

    Plan to be in Penang at end of May 2020 to sample Penang Durain. Would you recommend that we book our stay at Bao Sheng Durian Farm ? Thanks.

    Reply

  6. jacques PERNEL says

    bonjour,
    je vais en Thaïlande du 3 décembre 2019 au 26 février 2020, avec un ami…j’aimerais aller en Malaisie début février pour manger du très bon durian, mais d’après ce que je lis sur votre site, ce n’est pas la bonne saison!?
    il semble que je devrais plutôt venir entre juin et septembre, c’est bien ça?
    je vous remercie pour votre réponse
    bien à vous
    jacques PERNEL

    Reply

  7. chendaneary lieng says

    bonjour , je voudrai partir a penang l année prochaine vers fin mai 2020 , j aimerai savoir est ce qu il y aura de bon durian ce période là ? ou vers quel mois le prix sera moin cher le durian.
    merci de me donner la réponse par retour
    pourriez aussi m indiquer votre adresse ou ferme de durian , pour que je puisse y aller visiter

    Reply

  8. Met says

    Is it true there will be 2nd wave of musang king this month?and where can i get them.im craving for good durians

    Reply

  11. Kim says

    Hi,

    We will be driving from KL to Penang this weekend from 27/7 to 29/7. May we know where to eat the Black thorn durian.? Still have at nibong tebal?

    Thank you

    Reply

  13. Rasan says

    I will be Penang on 12th until 14th September 2019 and wondering possible can get Durian? If yes which place can get it? Thanks for replying.

    Reply

  14. Rassan says

    I will be Penang on 12th until 14th September 2019 and wondering possible can get Durian? If yes which place can get it? Thanks for replying.

    Reply

  15. JACK LIM says

    My wife n i are hoping to taste some black thorn durians in Jawi. Any recommendations? Thank you in advance

    Reply

  18. Utomo Santoso says

    Hi, me and other 10 people from Jakarta Indonesia will come to Penang, just for MSW durian trip, on June 19-21 next 2 weeks! I would really appreciate if you can tell me where would be the best MSW durian farm we could go?
    Thanks
    US

    Reply

  19. Justin says

    Hi Lindsay, great write up, very informative.

    My wife and I are scouting for a farm that we could spend a night in to indulge about all things durian. Can you recommend some farms which provides things like picking, choosing and understanding the fruit? (on top of eating them of course!) We’re very keen on the educational part as would like to learn more about how farmers get the best durians!

    Reply

  21. Titin says

    Hi i am planning to go penang 1st of august . Will there be musang king still? Where can i buy in town?
    And which farm with nice view worth a visit?
    Ps. I got blood pressure and diabetic so only a little bit is enough.

    Reply

  22. Vivian Tan says

    I’m planning to travel to Ipoh/Tanjung Tualang in mid-July 2019 and wish to have a durian feast in an orchard somewhere near Ipoh. Any good recommendation?

    Thank you!

    Reply

  25. Dahrani says

    Hi. I am going to Penang this week. Please advise me where to enjoy durian in near and about Batu Feringghi.
    Thank you

    Reply

  26. Sandy Gan says

    Hi Lindsay.. like your wirte up more than durian .. LOL!

    Anyway, planning to be in Penang on 27th July, any chance of Black Thorn or nice durian availabity by then?

    Cheers!

    Reply

    • [email protected] says

      Hi Sandy!

      I think Black Thorn season will be mostly past, but there should be plenty of nice durians around. Some of my favorites are later season, so you’ll probably still find Red Prawn, and then D15, D18, D14, Gold Fish, and the other later ones.

      Reply

  27. Teo says

    May I know where and when in Penang that I will have highest chance to taste black Thorn? I may go to Penang during weekend in July. Many thanks in advance

    Reply

  30. Valerie says

    I am trying to plan a trip to the raub area to eat durian in July. I am travelling by myself and am trying to cut down on travel cost. Is it possible to get a grab car from Raub (will get there from KL by bus) and get to some durian farms that way?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  31. lim cheesan says

    Well sorry to say that there are smaller farm in Penang that has already dropping durian since last week but sadly they do not sell direct but only to middleman which jack up the pricing. The farm stated in your blog are those quite expensive one. If you happen to explore smaller farm, you might get cheaper durian compare to baosheng or rumah batu

    Reply

    • [email protected] says

      Yes, there are a few places that have durian in Penang right now, but they told me they will not open to public until end of May. I respect their wishes to not publicize their farm until they are ready for guests.

      Reply

    • [email protected] says

      Hi Ann, I suggest you check out some of my blog posts on Bentong for where to stay and farms to visit, or use the map at the end of this post to navigate to those specific farms 🙂

      Reply

  34. Vera says

    Hi!
    I’m going to Penang on 27 may, please can you give me recommendations where good to go for eating durian, to which farm🌞
    Thank you very much for yours posts

    Reply

    • [email protected] says

      Hi Vera,

      This post contains a list of farms in Penang that will have durian at the end of May and early June. I suggest you have a look at the list. If you want more detailed information, you can contact me for a travel consultation or a custom itinerary 🙂

      Reply

  37. Steven Chan says

    Please advise further if there is any durian farm in Ipoh as we will be visiting Ipoh in late July month . If affirmative , kindly advise me the durian farm name and location address . Thank you .

    Reply

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