Our first glimpse into this beauty
You will always remember your first bite of durian.
(At least for those of us who tasted durian for the first time as adults).
I remember my first time…
I was in Malaysia, walking through a night market with a friend.
I had just finished eating 3 plates of marvelous Malaysian food, when we smelled (first), and then spotted a white truck full of spiky fruit.
Having your first bite of durian is a little frightening.
Freshly picked durian fruit (ทุเรียน)
Everyone has told you how bad it is, and you've seen people on TV shows who just can't stomach it.
Your first bite, you'll probably be a little nervous (I was) – after-all, just look at the outside shell of a durian – it can, and has,
literally been used as a weapon.
I scooped my first bite of durian, super ripe, yellow, and custardy; It was like picking up a small half-melted block of butter.
A line of freshly picked durian fruit
My first bite was an eye opening moment of awe.
It was sensationally custardy, like all-natural pudding with a seed in the middle. It tasted like pungent vanilla ice cream, sweet, buttery,
creamy, like blobs of frosting, only much better.
I fell in love, the type of unbelievable love, where you can hardly believe it.
How could a natural fruit be so unique and spectacular?
Showing a freshly picked beauty (ก้านยาว นนทบุรี)
Nonthaburi Durian, Thailand
Living and traveling in Southeast Asia since 2009, I've been able to sample quite a few durians, and every single good durian is a
sensational treat, and a moment to remember.
A friend of mine Lindsay from Yearofthedurian.com, is probably the most passionate, and knowledgable durian lover that I know.
When she invited me to go on a durian adventure to Nonthaburi, in search of the world's most expensive durian, I couldn't resist.
She has some serious durian passion!
In Thailand durian is grown in a few different provinces, and there are a number of different varieties.
However, as all Thais know, one of the most expensive and best quality durian varieties cultivated in the country is a kanyao, or
translated as a long stem durian.
A flawless Nonthaburi Kanyao Durian (ก้านยาว นนทบุรี)
The most famous of them all is the Nonthaburi Kanyao (ก้านยาว นนทบุรี), the world's most expensive durian.
You can't even buy them at stores or in local markets in Bangkok (the authentic, best quality ones, you won't even find at
Bangkok's upscale Or Tor Kor Market(video).
It's such a unique and beauty of a fruit
The best quality authentic Nonthaburi Kanyao durians are pre-sold, even before the season begins, the entire stock bought out by durian obsessed
businessmen who can afford to fork out the 10,000 – 20,000 THB ($305 – $610) price tag for a single fruit.
Lindsay had actually been in contact with the farm, Suan Toorien Padoi (สวนทุเรียนป้าต้อย) for months, and the time had finally come to purchase and
sample one of these high esteemed fruits.
I was actually surprised how small the farm was, just a small plot of land, where the owner could take extreme care of each and every durian tree.
Canals growing durian in Nonthaburi
Growing durian in Nonthaburi
Probably the most interesting thing I learned about durian during this adventure, was the unique durian growing method in Nonthaburi.
As the tide of the Chao Phraya river rises and falls, it brings new waves of fresh water, mixed with just the right amount of salinity, and
a host of other healthy growing minerals.
Suan Toorien Padoi (สวนทุเรียนป้าต้อย) – Durian Farm in Nonthaburi
The durian trees at orchards in Nonthaburi are planted in mounds of dirt and mud, all surrounded by canals.
Every year, the canals are dug out, and scoops of mud and minerals are piled up onto the durian mounds to heap them up and
ensure the soil is prime for durian nurturing.
Nonthaburi durian farm, Thailand
Due to the canals, the durian trees have access to a year round supply of water and nutrients, while other durian orchards around
Southeast Asia often go dry during the periods of dry season.
These are the spikes of a monthong durian
Nonthaburi really is the durian Garden of Eden.
One of the things that Suan Toorien (Durian) Padoi (สวนทุเรียนป้าต้อย) is especially known for, is producing Thailand's best quality,
fully organic grown durian.
Protection from the dangerous bugs and birds
Walking around the durian orchard, I noticed how all the durians fruits hanging from trees were covered in clear plastic wrapping.
This provided protection, especially from insects and bugs – I know for sure if I was a bug or a bird, I would definitely have eyes
on an organic durian.
Each durian tree is tagged
Every durian tree at the orchard was tagged with information, like a newborn child at the hospital.
The care of each and every tree at the orchard was amazing.
The farm
For the first part of our visit to Suan Toorien (Durian) Padoi (สวนทุเรียนป้าต้อย), we walked around the small orchard, taking a
look at the durian selection.
Mangosteen on tree
Polyculture farming
Another thing that was very cool, was the cross pollination farming technique used.
While many durian farms grow only durian, one of the things I loved about walking around here, was that there were multiple
things being grown together,polyculture farming.
Nonthaburi, where the soil is perfect for growing durian
Next to a durian tree there were mangosteen trees, banana trees, and even fresh peppercorn vines (which I couldn't resist sampling right off the tree,
tasted amazing by the way).
Ok, moving on, after we walked around the farm for a while, taking as many photos as possible, we then headed to the small entryway hut.
The owner had already picked a few durians for the day, and they were waiting and ready to be purchased by people who
had already reserved them.
Lindsay holding up her Nonthaburi Kanyao
Types of durian (and the famous kanyao)
There were two different kinds of durian to choose from, Nonthaburi Kanyao, which is the most expensive and highest grade, and
then Nonthaburi Monthong, which is one of the most widely available varieties in Bangkok.
Purchasing a durian at the farm
Lindsay came for the kanyao, and after some negotiating, she owned a beautiful, football (soccer) shaped durian,
spiky, with a long stem, and as precious as ones own.
Posted by: Zehera Kassam <zeherakassam@gmail.com>
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