This story about Bestala Durian is an old Bali durian post, and a post mostly about having your heart broken. It’s one that I wrote and then abandoned years ago because I just didn’t have it in me to finish. It wasn’t anything against Bestala. It’s just that durian is supposed to be a happy […]
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Understanding Indonesian Durian in Wonosobo | Central Java, Indonesia
Indonesian durian is somewhat old-fashioned. It’s got a rustic charm, and like anything antiquated, a lot of confusion. Farmers like Haji Muttaqin Hasan are changing that. We met Hasan at his house surrounded by small black pots and a small forest of low durian trees. A fully loaded rambutan tree drooped outside the open windows. […]
The Happiest Place to Eat Wonosobo Durian | Central Java
Wonosobo durian was much, much better than I expected. Actually, everything about Wonosobo was much, much better than I expected. Call me a cynic, but it’s a rare jewel to find 9/10 durian in a jaw-droppingly gorgeous, natural, clean, super-friendly setting. My tummy was happy. My camera was happy. I was happy. But before we […]
Durio Kutejensis at Hortimart Agro Center, Semarang | Java
Hortimart Agro Center is designed for tourists, there’s no doubt about it. But local tourists, not foreigners. I’m not sure anyone has written about the farm in English before. This might be the first. You’re welcome. Because if you’re a durian tourist visiting Central Java, you’ll want to add Hortimart to your hit list. There’s […]
The 10 Best Durian of 2017 – My Year in Review
When I tell you where I ate my 10 best durians of the year, I’m telling you a story about me. “Best durian” are deeply personal. They’re where I was and what I was doing and what was important to me when I ate them. This post, The 10 Best Durian of 2017 is essentially […]
Kaligesing Durian near Purworejo, Central Java
This post is from Justyna and Simon of Fit Shortie Eats Youtube fame. These crazy durian hunters have been criss-crossing Indonesia looking for all the best Ds. They’re minimalist fruitarians, know their botanical nomenclature, and fearlessly drive hundreds of kilometers into unknown places to look for fruit. I think they’re pretty cool 🙂 Look for […]
A BIG Jakarta Durian Guide: Where and How To Eat Durian in SE Asia’s “Big Durian”
For a city with the nickname “The Big Durian,” it can be pretty difficult or overwhelming to find the good durian scene in Jakarta. The city is immense, with more than 14 million people, made psychologically larger by its famously terrible traffic. You’re not going to want to wander aimlessly, hoping to stumble across some […]
Durian with Mutant Coconut Shake (Kopyor) For A Normal Lunch in Jakarta
Usually when I’ve got a durian hankering, I head to one of those durian stalls where you just eat durian until you can’t move anymore. In Jakarta I was surprised that ordering durian as a beverage is as normal as a Sprite with your lunchtime sandwich. I think this is what they call “moderation.” At […]
Two Sop Duren (Durian Soup) Restaurants in Serang, Java
Sop Duren, or Durian Soup, is taking over eastern Java. In the week I spent there, I saw Sop Duren everywhere, from tiny fruit push carts to large corporate establishments. There are chains of Sop Durian restaurants. It seemed like you could sit down and have a cold bowl of durian soup on almost every street corner. […]
Four Interspecies Hybrids of Durian | Banyuwangi, Java
Fairy tales are full of inter-species hybrids. Centaurs, sphinxes, mermaids, griffins – how many Harry Potter plots depend on these unlikely anatomical mix and matches? Real-life hybrids sound like just as much fantastical fun. Their names are slangy portmanteaus that give just enough of description to push our imaginations into action. Zebroid. Liger. Aprium. Pluot. […]
Bali Durian Variety: Sibadak at Luwus Horticultural Research Center | Luwus, Bali
Rob and I first visited the Luwus Horticultural Research Station back in 2012, on our first trip to Bali. It was here that we first tasted a Thai style durian, a wonderfully yellow Kani (Thai Chanee) that still haunts me as one of the best durians I’ve ever had. It was definitely the best durian I’d […]
Where To Go For Durian Abundance in Bali | Luwus, Bali
Luwus is unmistakable as you zip northwards on your normal tourism activities around Bali. Suddenly you’ll pass a durian stall and feel your adrenaline start pumping. But don’t slam on the breaks – soon you’ll see another durian stall, and another, and another, and another, and then you’re in Luwus and there are durians freaking […]
