Known as one of the most sought-after durian varieties in the world, Musang King durian has captured the attention of exotic fruit lovers with its distinctive taste and creamy texture. But do you know where this variety of durian comes from?
There are several versions of the origin story of the Musang King Durian. This golden-fleshed durian quickly gained popularity in Malaysia for its creamy texture and bittersweet flavor. Many durian farmers began growing their own and claimed to have created it.
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Various Origins of the Musang King
In one story, a farmer named Wee discovered an "unusual" durian tree and, enchanted by its taste, decided to graft it and bring it to Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
Another story tells how Tan Eow Chong from Penang found the golden-fleshed variety of durian at a roadside stall. The color, which the vendor described as resembling that of a sultan's palace, caught Tan's attention. After tasting the fruit, Tan experienced the sensation of the flesh "melting in his mouth," which inspired him to cultivate this variety of durian. Initially, Tan did not receive a branch from the vendor, but later returned with an armed villager and paid to have the branch shot down from the tree.
A more famous version is that Tan Lai Fook from Pahang discovered a durian tree in Gua Musang, Kelantan in the 1980s. He brought a branch back to Raub for grafting, and this new variety soon caught the attention of other growers. From then on, the name "Musang King" became well known.
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Roots of the name "Musang King"
Not only the origin, but also the way Musang King got its name has many versions. The most popular version associates the name with Gua Musang, the habitat of the Asian palm civet.
In Malay, "musang" means civet cat, so "Musang King" can be translated as "Civet Cat King". The Chinese term "Mao Shan Wang" (the name for Musang King in China) also means "Mountain Cat King".
Local people believe that civets are very selective when it comes to eating durian, and Musang King is considered their first choice.
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Characteristics and Unique Features
In Malaysia, Musang King Durian is also known as Raja Kunyit, a name that refers to the deep yellow color of its flesh, reminiscent of turmeric. Musang King's taste is often described as perfectly balanced between sweet and bitter. A favorite of durian lovers, its flesh is soft and pudding-like with a complex flavor profile.
The typical shape of the Musang King Durian is oval. Its distinctive features include deep yellow flesh, strong flavor and a star pattern on the underside of the fruit.
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Global Reputation
Musang King durian is one of the most exported durian varieties in the world. In 1993, the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture began cataloging various durian varieties in the country and identified 13 varieties, including Musang King, as suitable for commercial cultivation.
Although Musang King was initially known primarily within Malaysia, the variety gained global fame in the early 21st century.
In 2010, Stanley Ho, a prominent Macau casino owner often referred to as the "Godfather" or "King of Gambling," purchased 88 Mao Shan Wang durians. The news spread widely in China and the demand for this Malaysian durian increased. Stanley even gave 10 of these durians as a gift to Hong Kong developer Li Ka-shing, further increasing the demand for the fruit.
Today, Musang King is the most famous Malaysian durian variety, grown extensively in Malaysia for both local and international markets, and on a smaller scale in some parts of Southeast Asia for domestic consumption.
