“Fifty years ago, this tree was very much in demand,” Mr. Lai says, craning to look up at branches silhouetted like spiderweb a hundred feet above us. Even then the tree was already huge. This was before there was Red Prawn, or Hor Lor, or Musang King, when this sleepy southwestern corner of Penang Island was […]
First 2017 Penang Durian From Steven Chua
Steven is famous for durian. Or should be. Or maybe will be after this post. Steven just brought me my very first durian of the 2017 Penang Durian Season. Happy New Year, durian lovers! *Spoiler* It was a D600. Scroll to the bottom for pics and video. You probably already know Steven. You just haven’t realized it […]
10 Durian Desserts To Get Funky On Armenian Street, Georgetown Penang
In the last year (2016), something amazing has happened. Not one, but two durian-centric restaurants have opened in Georgetown, on the narrow, artsy-fartsy walking street called Lebuh Armenian. Durian is basically dessert already, but these guys have spun it half a dozen ways into sweets both familiar and fascinating. Let me introduce you to the […]
3 Places To Eat Durian in Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Batu Ferringhi is not my favorite place in Penang. The seaside city is a tourist trap with a mediocre beach, mediocre massage, and a scarcity of durian that is just confusing given what I imagine would be huge demand. Everybody goes to Batu Ferringhi. And I know you’ll insist on going there too. So I might […]
More Black Thorn Durian at Jawi Durian Festival 2016
My new camera arrived in the mail yesterday, and I didn’t wait even 24 hours before I was smearing my sticky durian fingers all over the dials at the Jawi Durian Fest. For the next 20 days, this is the best place to get Black Thorn durian. You can slobber over the durians we ate while […]
All About Capri at Eng Hoe Durian in Batu Ferringhi, Penang
Before judging us, remember that the main purpose of the durian tours is, in fact, to eat gobs of durian. And not just any durian, but the widest variety of durian flavors. I wanted the group to get a good taste of a very unique durian variety called Capri, a boozy, banana-rum tasting durian, so there was […]
Recap of the 2016 Bao Sheng Durian Festival in Photos
Five days ago everybody went home from the Bao Sheng Durian Festival. I’m still here, and so is Grant and Olmo and Aviyah, but the farm is quiet. In the mornings I do yoga by myself. The blenders in the Smoothie Bar are still. It’s like the day after Christmas. I’m happy, but not quite ready […]
Eating the First 2016 Penang Durian and Season Update
The 2016 Penang Durian season is here. I’ve already been at the Bao Sheng Durian Farm for a month, but I did not expect to be eating durian yet. I’d actually walked up to the main house to eat a very unenthralling banana when I smelled the first durian of the season. Excited much? Excuse the slightly lower […]
Poh Beng Durian Stall Near the Penang Airport | Penang, Malaysia
Poh Beng Durian Stall attracted my attention because it is located very close to the Penang International Airport. Google maps tells me it’s less than three miles away, or a total of 9 minutes by car. That’s very doable if you’re in a rush to grab a last hit on your way to the airport, […]
The Chulia Street Durian Guy Across From 7-11 | Georgetown, Penang Malaysia
His was the first durian I bought on Penang back in 2012. He’s probably where you bought your first Penang durian, if you were staying on Chulia Street. His stall is simple, just two collapsible tables wedged between his brother’s juice cart and a guy selling coconuts on one of the busiest streets in the […]
Pictures of the 2015 Malaysia Durian Tour | Or How Westerners Scarfed More Durian Than (Most) Locals
On Sunday I said goodbye to 9 wonderful durian lovers who decided to come on an adventure eating durian with me around Malaysia. I think durian attracts the best people. We had a van and a plan and a checklist of all the yummy durians we intended to consume in 8 days. We ate all […]
Penang Organic Durian at Green Acres Eco-Retreat |Malaysia
Wow, I kept repeating. For once, I wasn’t talking about the durian. I was talking about the durian farm. Last summer, my friend Ryan and I visited Green Acres, an eco-retreat center built on an organic durian farm. I’ve visited more than my share of pretty awesome durian farms, but right away I knew this […]
