Climbing to the top: Yeap with a Tupai King durian from his orchard in Teluk Bahang, Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: Move aside Musang King and Black Thorn, as the squirrel has leapt into the durian kingdom and is here to claim the crown.
Meet Tupai King, a bold contender in the world of premium durian, already making waves as the next big variant of the “King of Fruits”.
Despite being a relatively new entry to the market, do not be deceived by its unassuming pale yellow flesh tinged with bluish-black tones as it holds a flavour profile that is anything but ordinary, said farmer Chew Chee Wan.
“It has a rich creamy, texture layered with deep bittersweet flavours, nutty undertones and subtle fermented notes.”
Chew first discovered the unique durian 20 years ago in Sungai Ara and immediately knew it was something special.
“The first time I tasted the fruit, I found it to be very good. Right away, I saw huge potential and value in Tupai King.
“I shared it with other farmers, but many were hesitant, since Musang King and Black Thorn were already dominating the market,” he said.
Today, thanks to its limited production and exceptional flavour, Tupai King has become highly sought after.
“Luckily, I discovered it early, and I now have about 50 mature trees on my farm,” said Chew.
He added that the variety was officially registered with the Agriculture Department in 2021 under the name Tupai 226, with the cultivar code D214.
The name Tupai King, meaning “Squirrel King”, was inspired by Chew’s durian shop, Cap Tupai.
This year’s durian season is expected to kick off in late May, with Tupai King anticipated to be a sensation once the fruits hit stalls from mid-June through August.
Another orchard owner, Eric Yeap, believes Tupai King is poised to reign supreme this durian season.
He said the durian now fetches nearly double the price of Musang King and Black Thorn, with current prices around RM130 per kg, compared to RM80 for Musang King and RM90 for Black Thorn.
“When exported to markets like Hong Kong, Tupai King can fetch up to RM250 per kg,” he added.
Yeap, owns seven orchards covering about 53ha in Teluk Bahang. Out of his over 2,000 trees, just 80 are Tupai King, with only 20 mature enough to bear fruit.
“Each fruit weighs between 1.8kg and 2.5kg.
“But last year, I had one that tipped the scales at 3.4kg,” he said with a smile.
Despite its rising fame, Yeap admits Tupai King’s appeal may not be universal.
“The fruit looks unattractive with its rugged, weathered husk that can be off-putting.
“The flesh inside can appear pale yet dark, with a pronounced bitterness that not everyone may appreciate.
“It also has a strong, alcoholic aftertaste that enhances the flavour’s depth but can leave your tongue with a numb sensation,” Yeap said.
This season, however, has been challenging for many durian farmers due to erratic weather.
“Continuous heavy rain during the flowering season caused many buds to fall prematurely.
“I’m expecting a 30% to 40% drop in yield compared to last year.”
