Semarang Durian Kholil

Durian Kholil is a small brick house in the sprawling outskirts of Semarang City that has become famous for several contest-winning durians and a 100-year-old tree.

Meet Kholil & his son Fadly

Pak Kholil’s family has sold durian his whole life from the small 1.6 ha plot in the village.

It wasn’t a huge Thing, just a normal part of the ebb and flow of life.

In October through December, the family sold durian from the front step of their yellow brick house.

The rest of the year, the family focused on their business selling guavas, fresh milk and ice creams – also from the front room of their house.

But in 2008, things changed. The family became famous overnight when a durian from their oldest tree won a local contest.

At that time, the durian was just called Yellow Durian, Durian Mas.

But in the papers, and in word of mouth… suddenly everyone was asking for Kholil’s Durian.. what about the durian from Kholil?

Durian Kholil

There were immediate concerns about losing the old tree. Because when it was entered into the contest, there was just one Durian Kholil tree. And it’s old.

The tree was planted by Kholil’s grandfather – Fadly’s great-grandfather – and is around 100-years old.

When old trees get this tall, the most common way they die is actually by lightning strike.

Since then, Kholil has started grafting the tree to reproduce this tree as a variety.

But it’s still a local heritage landmark, so the local government decided to erect a lighting pole next to the old tree to protect it.

It was a unique idea. In all the years we have been traveling for durian, this is the only tree we have ever seen protected from lighting! Here’s hoping it survives for many years more.

Kholil’s Durian

As their durian grows in popularity, Kholil & Fadly are realizing their house is getting too small.

The day we visited, we were lucky to find a space on a blanket in front of the yellow brick house.

Kholil was busy with customers, but Fadly speaks good English and took good care of us, answering our many questions.

Currently, there is still only one Durian Kholil tree producing – the old one – and the season for that tree is short. So we had just missed the famous durian by about a week.

So we decided to try some of the other durians that are giving Kholil’s Durian Shop a good reputation. We’ll be back to try the real Durian Kholil in the future.

Maybe-Petruk

This strangely elongated durian was lying on the front step, just waiting for us, it’s stem still sticky with rain and sap.

The smell was strong, chocolatey and even a little numbing.

Fadly hesitated to open it, telling us he had other, fleshier, more fmaous durians waiting. But the smell was too enticing, and we begged him to open it.

Call me a sucker for anything that smells numbing.

This durian was full oof surprises. Firstly, it had the most durian seeds/sections of any durian I’ve ever seen, long strands of pearly grey pods.

Secondly, the flesh looked firm or smooth, and I worried about having opened it too early, but it was an optical illusion. On grabbling that bottom piece, my fingers sank into an ivory cream that was like sticky cookie dough.

“What is it called?” we asked Fadly. He laughed and said that for now it doesn’t have a name, but pointing to it’s very long shape, “Maybe Petruk.”

Yuyem

Having eaten the longest, pointiest durian at Durian Kholil’s we moved on to one perfectly round like a ball.

After the 100-year-old tree, this is the most famous durian in the area.

Kholil named it for his mother, Yuk (Auntie) Yem, shortened to Yuyem.

It’s a beautiful durian with perfect pollination, each section full of large and plump flesh.

Fadly told us that even though this durian is tree-dropped, it doesn’t soften for 3-4 days. I was shocked, because usually durian that old goes watery and stale. I was hesitant to try it.

But Fadly was right, 3-4 day old Yuyem was lovely, soft and smooth, with a strong rose-water flavor and a hint of something alcoholic.

I would like to try this one again.

Lokal Musang King

Our last durian, was an immensely fleshy durian with tiny purplish spines that contrasted beautifully with the yellow flesh. Although the durian was tree-dropped, it had never hit the ground and the flesh looked smooth, just starting to show wrinkles.

It’s currently among their most popular durians, because it’s so stable and satisfying – “just like Musang King,” says one of their most frequent buyers.

This durian of course, has nothing to do with Musang King. It’s just the name.

I can can see the appeal for local tastes. It’s extremely sweet and buttery, with thick flesh that left me completely full after 2 pieces. It’s like Monthong but with more caramel and rose undertones.

Crystal Guava

To finish our durian meal and cleanse our pallets, Fadly taught us how to eat Guava in the local-style.

The family also grows the local Crystal Jambu, a variety of white-fleshed guava, as an intercrop with the durian trees.

Eaten at just-before-ripe stage, the pieces cracked under our teeth with a juice like sweet jicama. We dipped it into a home-made sambal made of local coconut sugar, salt and chilies, the perfect ending to a Delicious Day.

How to visit Durian Kholil Semarang

Durian Kholil. is located in the family’s house in Mijen, a district bordering Semarang City and just 30 minutes away from the downtown proper.

You can easily visit by taking a Grab or self-driving.

Due to the limited availability of the most famous durians – like Yuyem, Kholil or Local Musang King – make sure to book ahead.

Contact Fadly for booking: