Durian frenzy sweeps Hong Kong as Malaysia’s Musang King competes with Thai imports for popularity
- Demand for Malaysian durians has spiked in China since 2019, when the Southeast Asian nation began exporting frozen fruits there
- With people prevented from travelling due to the pandemic, durian sellers in Malaysia are also seeing an uptick in delivery orders from Hongkongers
“My favourite durian variety is Golden Pillow from Thailand,” Kwok said. “It has a sweet and creamy taste, and more importantly, I can enjoy some premium quality durian for less than HK$200 in supermarkets!”
Durians, which can be found all year round but are largely harvested during the drier and hotter months between May and August, have legions of fans across Asia. Ranking high on that list are Chinese consumers, who bought US$2.2 billion worth of durians from Thailand last year, up 78 per cent from the previous year, according to United Nations data.
Malaysian durians have also grown in popularity in China since 2019, when the Southeast Asian nation began exporting the frozen fruit there. While Thai growers are known to pluck unripe durians so the fruit can be kept for longer, Malaysian durians are usually harvested only when they ripen and drop to the ground, which local growers claim gives the flesh a better aroma and taste.
In Hong Kong, hardcore fans are taking to social media to share tips on selecting the best durians and to highlight places offering the fruit at a good price – especially as some restaurants in the city have launched durian buffets.
