Durian Season Pt1

It’s that time of the year again in W. Malaysia. It is once a year affair - the durian season. Durian lovers with a deep pocket, dust off their boots ready to visit durian farms for the freshest durian and hopefully the first pick before it is sent away to be sold in towns and cities. While at the farm, advance booking and payment can be made for the best of the best fruit. He will be at ease knowing that he has secured his ‘best of the best’ supply for next session of durian feast, never mind the very high cholesterol said to contain. High blood pressure and stroke is the last thing on his mind; until the season is over that is.

Lovers of durian with not so deep pocket will buy from hawkers in towns and cities. Durian sellers set up stalls all over the town. Talk among this group of durian lovers is about locations with the largest congregation of sellers, perceive honest sellers, perceive value for money at a certain location and other matters related to durian.

Durian is king of all fruits in South East Asia, Hong Kong and China. The variety I am referring to above is ‘musang king’ or ‘mao shan wang’ in Mandarin. Musang king variety of durian and is considered to be king of kings. Its aroma is from the seventh heaven to many but it “stinks to high heaven” for others. Partaking it puts them in the eighth heaven for those who are connoisseurs. But, most hotels bar guests from bringing it into the premise.

![Civet coffee reduce.png]
)

While on the subject of musang, which is civet cat in English, we have civet cat coffee. It is the cat’s poo after eating coffee beans off the trees. BUT it is expensive. Imagine that!!

A cup of cat’s poo coffee can cost you around $60 compared to around $3.50 for a cup of regular coffee. A 500gm pack of roasted cat’s poo beans can cost about $350 as compared to around $6.50 for the regular beans.

Mmm.... Maybe I should call my tempeh starter as Musang King Tempeh Starter instead of Azura Tempeh Starter.