Interviews and Events

Press Interviews and Events

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In a country where there’s a building in the shape of a durian, it’s unlikely that there’s any shortage of the actual fruit anywhere in this little red dot.

When it comes to picking the best shop to patronise, it’s always a dilemma especially with mixed reviews floating around the internet. With top grade mao shan wang available at almost every stall during the peak season, ambience and service are the next dealmakers. So here’s a guide to 9 sit-down durian stalls with great service all around Singapore that serve up the best mao shan wang:

– Central –

1. House of Durian (Toa Payoh)

Tucked away under a HDB block at Toa Payoh, House of Durian contains so much more than just durians alone. In here resides a variety of other fruits as well as durian creations – and by that I mean mao shan wang ice cream and smoothies made with actual durian in front of your eyes.

Mao shan wang ice cream in a cone ($2). You can get one in a cup for $4.

Mao shan wang smoothie ($4). Rich and creamy, this literally tastes like liquified durian!

Address: 211 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Block 211, Singapore 310211
Contact:: 9489 7781
Price: $28/kg for MSW

2. Fruit Monkeys (Farrer Park)

Durians are “heaty” enough, and we don’t need things to get even more heated with the weather. A great respite from Singapore’s heat and humidity, Fruit Monkeys allows you to sit down under aircon and enjoy your durian without sweating.

Located a stone’s throw away from Farrer Park MRT Station, this indoor durian eatery left both our tummies and hearts full with the fleshy mao shan wang and heartwarming service. Complimentary gloves, water and tissue made for an amazingly convenient experience. NETs payment is accepted too.

The mao shan wang we got was on the sweeter and fleshier side, although too watery for some.

Address: 88 Rangoon Road #01-07 Rangoon 88, 218374
Contact: 9145 2860
Price: $28/kg (MSW)

3. 717 Trading (Serangoon Road)

A roadside durian place with honest and top-quality mao shan wang

717 Trading is the kind of place you’d go to for a lepak night out with good ol’ friends and some quality durian. The whole roadside experience was very simplistic and peaceful – staff were rather friendly as well.

The mao shan wang we got struck a perfect balance of bitter and sweet, and maintained it’s shape even though it was super creamy. Perfect for those who like something substantial to bite into.

717 Trading’s extension shop, Durian Empire – right around the corner from 717 – sells a variety of durian items including puffs, crepes, cakes and tarts. We tried their signature Durian Crepe ($5.80) and the rich and creamy durian flavour was clearly not artificial. Definitely worth a visit!

Address: Highland Centre, #01- 01, 22 Yio Chu Kang Rd, 545535
Opening Hours: 9AM–10PM
Contact: 6287 7717
Price: $30/kg (MSW)

– West –

4. Ah Seng Durian (Ghim Moh)

Source

Ah Seng Durian has been around for a couple of years, never failing to win the hearts of Singaporeans in search for good quality durians, especially mao shan wang. Having a reputation for his honesty, Ah Seng is a friendly and bubbly store owner who’s almost always present, providing customers personal service.

The super friendly shop owner Source

Note: You should reserve your durians 1-2 days ahead because of high demand. It can also get very crowded so don’t come expecting a guaranteed seat!

Address: Block 150A Ghim Moh Road, #01-64 Ghim Moh Temporary Market, Singapore 270009
Contact: 94656160
Opening Hours: 2.00 pm to 9.00 pm

5. LeLe Durian (Ghim Moh)

Source

Lele Durian is known for it’s top-grade mao shan wang from Batu Pahat that rarely disappoints its customers. Their mao shan wang is known to be super bittersweet and addictively creamy in texture. With fluctuating prices throughout the year, catch them during the durian season and dig in!

Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, #01-125 Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, Singapore 270020
Opening Hours: 12:00am – 12:00am
Contact: 96948584
Price: $23/kg on average for MSW

6. The Durian Tree (Bukit Batok)

Source

There’s more to the West for durian-lovers than just Ghim Moh. The Durian Tree is a humble durian stall at Bukit Batok selling a great variety of durians – including fleshy mao shan wang at a very reasonable price. Service is noted to be extremely good by many customers who claim that they replace bad durians within reasonable requests.

Address: 277 Bukit Batok East Ave 3, Singapore 650277
Contact: 9812 4148
Opening Hours: 1:30–11PM
Price: $24/kg

– East –

7. Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian

Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian has D24 in its name for a reason – their durians never fail to please D24 lovers. However, during peak season, Ah Hung prides itself on their flat-seeded, fleshy, and slightly bitter mao shan wang as well. Amongst the stretch of durian stalls at Sims avenue, I have to admit that Ah Hung is one of the fewer stalls that are genuine in both their quality and pricing.

Address: 109 Sims Ave, Singapore 387433
Price: $30/kg (MSW)

8. 227 Katong

Source

Katong is not only the place to take Instagram-worthy hipster cafe shots, but also to savour drool-worthy mao shan wang. At 227 Katong, feast on these bright yellow fleshy pieces of durian at a relatively reasonable price with a bonus of great service – shiok. For those who wish to skip the disappointment of “sold out” durians for walk-in orders, you can also order online on their website.

Address: 227 East Coast Road Singapore
Contact: 63482742/97514828
Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 10.00 pm
Price: $23/kg onwards (MSW)

– North –

9. Durian Kaki (Yishun)

Source: @melvinlimhr

If there’s one thing Yishun is good for other than rabak crimes, it’s durian. Be brave and tread those dangerous grounds, ‘cause it’s definitely worth it if you’re going to get mao shan wang at Durian Kaki.

Source: @duriankakisg

Apart from excellent reviews of the creamy bittersweet king of fruits, their service has received a noteworthy amount of praise as well. A clean modern spin on the classic roadside durian stalls, with indoor seating to accommodate haters of our humid weather.

Note: Durian Kaki has temporarily ceased operations and will be back with a new batch of durians during their main season in June.

Address: 01 Yishun Avenue 9, 18 83 Junction Nine, 768893
Opening Hours: 2pm to 11pm
Contact: 8405 8509

**Buy them durian the season and take your prick!**

North, East, West, Central – durians don’t discriminate. Mao shan wang lovers, the main seasons are from early March to mid-April, mid-May to early July and late August to early October! So cash dem ousside all around Singapore at their peak seasons – and be sure to drink lots of water while you’re at it!

Stinkyspikes: Invitation to visit Fruit Monkeys, Singapore

I suppose if you were to open a fruit business in the chinese astrological year of the monkey, it would make sense to include the word monkey in the name. Particularly because it is so apt that monkeys love fruit. Especially high calorie ones like durian.

It was a pleasant surprise to receive an invite from the two founders of Fruit Monkeys, to check out their new durian enterprise. Kaida (Chief Inspiration Officer) got in touch and seemed genuinely pleased when I agreed to pop in sometime over the Christmas / New Year period when I was in Singapore. Please note that this is not a paid review, we were charged for what we chose and consumed.

Fruit Monkeys is located along a street which I would normally never travel on, nor pass by en route somewhere nor on foot. It’s located near Farrer Park MRT station/ hospital, on Rangoon Road but would still be several minutes walk. There’s ample street parking if you’re inclined to drive but no covered areas so be prepared to get a bit soaked in wet weather. Who eats durians on rainy days?

I popped in to pick up some durian as a gift for a friends house visit, and give Fruit Monkeys a chance. The owners chose to take a shop lot in a newly constructed podium space, not your typical durian stall with such posh digs. The vicinity feels quite experimental and the transitioning of shops in the neighbourhood indicates gradual gentrification of the area.

As though testing me, the durian Sifu opening the fruit asked me “which one do you prefer?”
“Jin Feng” was my reply. It was a winner in both smoothness of texture and a sweet richness that was unpretentious. He smiled knowingly and told me that it is only in season for two weeks. Ahh the joys of eating seasonal fruit… sort of the same highs as getting a limited edition of a luxury item. Total came to SGD 250 for 5 fruits. Not cheap but it came with Bernard’s personal guarantee.

I was getting these to go and it was a good way to see how it would be packed.

The durians were tipped into the usual plastic containers and then heat sealed in a bag. It did reduce the smell but as it was just one layer, the smell had begun to leak once I got into the car. Oh well we had it in “convertible mode” (windows down!).

THE DEEP FREEZER FOR THE BODIES

There was a deep freezer in the corner of the store, I asked whether they could show me what they kept inside. No, just joking, there are no bodies here, just durian!

They had two categories in the freezer. One was packed premium Musang kings, all individually wrapped in cling film and packed tightly into more sturdy freezer friendly plastic box. The foil cover maintains the secrecy of what’s inside from prying eyes except that it wouldn’t fool an x-ray machine. The other were standard takeaway style plastic boxes filled with the durians that were rejected, these are sold for processing to be recreated into purees and pulp for pastries etc.

The premium grade frozen Musang kings go for SGD 110 per box and Bernard said that these were targeted to Indonesian clientele who liked to bring it home and eat it cold like ice cream.

FACILITIES

I was reasonably impressed with the facilities, the shop was brightly lit, reasonably clean and free of bugs. There was a proper work table for the packing of the fruit and a nice wide and deep kitchen sink for washing hands and tools. The owners also had a bowl of candy out, presumably as an offering for drop ins or those needing to leave with a different flavour in their breath.

I noticed some durian brushes hung up at the side. It’s nice to keep your premium fruit looking cobweb and bug free. You can also see the different sized boxes available for travel takeaway next to their packaging materials ( i.e. Tape, scissors, heat sealing machine).

And if you go crazy excessive ordering and run out of cash, you can also pay by NETS and credit card.

I think this is a good place to take your guests for a durian experience (it’s important that first tries are good ones and at least Bernard and Kaida can curate). It’s covered so you can sit inside or in the covered walkway area if it rains. It’s also air conditioned for those who need it a little more luxe than the usual roadside haunts.

Bernard’s perspective is that he caters for durian lovers. He gets his supplier to only select the best fruit from Johor and Pahang (Raub & Bentong specifically- well reputed and old durian plantations there). He says it’s expensive but he gets a guarantee on fruit quality. If it doesn’t pass the test, he says he gets to return or refund it. This is the same promise he offers his clients. They started out as fruit lovers and have now progressed to fruit vendors.

Anyway back to the durians I bought. It was a gift to a friend. Our friend KM -a Kamoro indigenous tribe expert- is a durian lover. His wife GM even more so. They were so happy with the gift and really took time to savour every bite. Here’s the final evidence.

Alvinology: Fresh and Fleshy Mao Shan Wang Durians as Cheap as $10 in Early and Extended Durian Season This Year

No Jay Chou-lookalike durian seller revealing his sexy Calvin Klein undies to open the durian fruit for you. No gimmicks this time. Just the freshest and cheapest Mao Shan Wang durians you’ve seen this year.

There’s simply no need for the likes of the ultra-fit Malaysian durian seller, Jordan Yeoh to make an appearance for durian sales to skyrocket – when the prices of durians are as inviting as it is now. Come March, the price of Mao Shan Wang durians, also known as Cat Mountain King can fall as low as $10 per kilogram once stocks start trickling in.

Typically, the durian season would only arrive in June but this year, durian lovers are in for a treat. Due to the early arrival of the durian season in February, the new price of Cat Mountain King durians can go as low as half of its usual price, $18/kg.

Well, globalisation does come with its perks after all. This worldwide phenomenon is the key reason we’re able to enjoy dirt-cheap Mao Shan Wang durians. Owing to the erratic weather pattern these days and unusually good weather at the end of 2016, the durian season is predicted to run from February to August. This rarely happens – and if so, only once every decade.

This year, the durian season could also extend to as long as half a year, which only gives us all the more reason for this sinful indulgence. In case you didn’t know, durians are high in calories – but well worth the hour-long runs once you sink into those succulent meat.

As if we didn’t already have enough reason to buy home some Mao Shan Wang, the quality of the durians in the current season is way better than those in December last year. Some seasoned durian sellers have also recommended Red Prawn and D13 durians with one as cheap as $2. D13 also has a consistent quality with an unbeatable taste – promising one with fresh and succulent meat.

If enjoying this seasonal and tropical fruit in the heat isn’t what you have in mind, then Fruit Monkeys at Rangoon 88 is the perfect spot to go for your durian cravings. Unlike the street-side stalls that have become synonymous with the local experience of savouring durians, the outlet is air-conditioned. There’s even vacuum-packaged durians to retain the freshness and taste for 3-4 days, especially for customers who want a take-out.

It’s not everyday we can have such cheap durians so you can count on us “jio-ing” our friends for some Mao Shan Wang.
If you’re the kind who prefers buying back whole durians home and chopping them, you may want to check out this amusing video for some tips. The second method may be a bit unorthodox, but we’d do anything just to crack open that durian we can’t wait to dig in. Would you do the same?

Durian in Singapore

Durian the “king of fruits”, the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odor,
and formidable thorn-covered husk.

The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio.
The name “durian” is derived from the Malay-Indonesian languages word for duri or “spike”,
a reference to the numerous spike protuberances of the fruit.

Durian sellers make it easy for customers to order the King of Fruit online

Durian lovers no longer need to trek to Geylang or Balestier to hunt down the best deals.

The king of fruits can now be delivered fresh to your doorstep at the click of a button, with more sellers turning to e-commerce to beat the competition.

Durian sellers are listing their products on e-marketplaces such as Qoo10 or setting up their own websites to drive online sales.
(RELATED: Mao shan wang is the tip of the luxe durian iceberg – we dive into the highest end of Singapore’s favourite tropical fruit.)

Mr Tan See Thong, who runs Durian Plantation in MacPherson Road, said the company started listing its products on the Qoo10 platform last

month and has since sold close to 1,000 durians online.

Online customers select their durians based on weight. The fruits are then de-husked and packed into boxes for delivery. Prices online are similar to those in-store.

“The (online) response has been good even though it’s now a smaller harvest and prices are about two times higher than usual,” said Mr Tan, who speaks mainly Mandarin.

“A traditional industry like ours needs new ways to grow, and e-commerce can help us reach out to new customers. We need to be faster than others to get ahead.

“In the past, if people didn’t come to the store, we wouldn’t have sales. But now, we’re trying to be more proactive because this is the new way forward,” he added.

Another company, Fruit Monkeys, also recently started listing its products on the Qoo10 platform. Co-founder Bernard Tan started the business with a partner last December and opened a store in Rangoon Road. “I have been eating durians for more than 20 years and could not find anyone who could provide me with consistently good durians,” said Mr Bernard Tan.

“Usually, people go to Geylang or Balestier, but they have to bargain and they’re not sure whether the durians are good.

“That’s the gap we’re trying to fill. We are looking for opportunities not captured in the older traditional business.”

(RELATED: Durian mousse cake for the sweet-toothed)

He declined to reveal sales figures but said business has “picked up really fast”, with online sales now contributing about 40 per cent of total takings.

But the e-commerce market comes with its own set of challenges, durian sellers said.

“It was tough initially – we had to perfect the packaging and make sure we deliver good durians to customers within a short time,” said Fruit Monkeys’ Mr Tan.

Durian Plantation’s Mr Tan said there have been some hurdles, including issues with maintaining the quality of delivered fruits.

“We’ll keep adapting and learning,” he added.

Mr Raymond Ng of Lele Durian said the company first dipped its toes into e-commerce two to three years ago but subsequently took a break from online sales.

“We had to do our own deliveries, so it was tough to manage,” said Mr Ng, who is helping his father with the business.

He recently decided to get back into the online game, but limits online sales to 20 per cent of his stock while keeping the bulk for regular customers who visit his store in Ghim Moh. He also makes use of a delivery service offered by Qoo10 which picks items up from sellers and delivers them to buyers.

“This is a fruit, so there will be taste differences. Some durians are more bitter and some are more sweet, so we have to take that into consideration when selling online,” said Mr Ng. “Initially, there were some complaints from customers that the taste wasn’t what they expected, but slowly we built up our reputation.”

But some still prefer to shop for durians in-store, said Fruit Monkeys’ Mr Tan. “Durians are not like other fruits. Some customers still want to engage with the seller and build a relationship.

(RELATED: The intricacies of the durian world beyond Mao Shan Wang)

“They want to talk to you, ask you what’s good, see you open the durian… There are different types of customers and we have to cater to them accordingly.”

Qoo10 Singapore country manager Cho Hyunwook said there are now six durian sellers on the platform, who have sold more than 4,000 durians in total since March.

“The main pull factor for these merchants – who have mostly never ventured into online commerce before – is the large database of customers that we have at more than 2.5 million registered users.”

Instead of using e-commerce marketplaces, other durian sellers have opted to set up their own websites, including Durian Culture which has brick-and-mortar stores in Sims Avenue and Upper Serangoon Road, as well as 227 Katong Durian which operates in East Coast Road.

But not all durian sellers are jumping on the Internet bandwagon.

Mr Cedrik Shui of Ah Seng Durian in Ghim Moh said the company has no immediate plans to start offering its products online.

“People have different preferences when it comes to durians… It’s easier to cater to these preferences when they come down to our shop and try the fruit in person,” said Mr Shui, who is helping out in the family business and eventually intends to take over from his father.

“Delivery is also an issue – the charges can be quite pricey and not all customers might be comfortable paying.”

Article: thepeakmagazine.com.sg

Ding-dong… It’s durian at the door: King of fruits delivered fresh as more sellers go online

Durian lovers no longer need to trek to Geylang or Balestier to hunt down the best deals.

The king of fruits can now be delivered fresh to your doorstep at the click of a button, with more sellers turning to e-commerce to beat the competition.

Durian sellers are listing their products on e-marketplaces such as Qoo10 or setting up their own websites to drive online sales.

Mr Tan See Thong, who runs Durian Plantation in MacPherson Road, said the company started listing its products on the Qoo10 platform last month and has since sold close to 1,000 durians online.

Online customers select their durians based on weight. The fruits are then de-husked and packed into boxes for delivery. Prices online are similar to those in-store.

“The (online) response has been good even though it’s now a smaller harvest and prices are about two times higher than usual,” said Mr Tan, who speaks mainly Mandarin.

“A traditional industry like ours needs new ways to grow, and e-commerce can help us reach out to new customers. We need to be faster than others to get ahead.

“In the past, if people didn’t come to the store, we wouldn’t have sales. But now, we’re trying to be more proactive because this is the new way forward,” he added.

Another company, Fruit Monkeys, also recently started listing its products on the Qoo10 platform.

Co-founder Bernard Tan started the business with a partner last December and opened a store in Rangoon Road. “I have been eating durians for more than 20 years and could not find anyone who could provide me with consistently good durians,” said Mr Bernard Tan.