D197 Musang King (Mau Shan Wang)

Okay, the most famous of all... D197 Musang King — or as I like to call it, the Michael Jackson of durians . It doesn’t just enter the room; it owns the room. If durians had a royal family, this one wouldn’t just be king… it’d be emperor, general, and dessert god all in one.

So What Even Is This Thing?

Well, for starters, it goes by many names: Musang King (meaning "king of civet cats"), Mau Shan Wang (literally "Cat Mountain King"), or Raja Kunyit (its original official name, which meaning literally translate into "Turmeric King").

It was officially registered in 1993, which makes it technically a ’90s kid. But unlike most of us back then, it didn’t spend its youth listening to Backstreet Boys—it was busy becoming legendary.

The original tree? Grew somewhere near Gua Musang (civet cat cave), a place we can only assume is a hangout spot for wild civet cats, where they might even party with fruits from nearby farms.

Credit for spreading the gospel of Musang King goes to a guy named Tan Lai Fook, who basically took a branch from that original tree and started cloning it like a durian version of a Steve Jobs keynote. The rest is history.

First Impressions?

Visually, it's your typical spiky death trap—but prettier. It’s medium to large, weighing anywhere between 2 to 4 kilograms , which is like holding a small toddler made of spikes and dreams.

Its husk is light green to olive green, covered in neat little triangular thorns that look more organized than my sock drawer. And here’s a cool party trick: there’s often a star-shaped pattern at the base when you look closely. Very celestial. Very fancy.

Inside: Golden Glory

Crack it open, and boom—you’re staring at golden-yellow flesh so vibrant it could make a sunset jealous. That color alone is part of what makes it stand out from the crowd.

Texture-wise, it’s creamy, smooth, and buttery , like someone whipped up a batch of custard and said, “Nah, let’s make it durian instead.” It practically melts in your mouth, leaving behind a sticky little love note to your taste buds.

And those seeds? Small and polite, not hogging all the space like some other divas we could mention (I’m looking at you, D24). More flesh = more happiness. Simple math.

Taste Test: Flavor Explosion

Now, the big question: how does it taste?

Short answer: amazing .

Long answer: Think deep sweetness mixed with a touch of bitterness , like dark chocolate dipped in caramel. Some people swear they get hints of almond, vanilla, or even coffee. It’s complex, rich, and layered—like a durian opera playing in your mouth.

And yes, it smells strong. Like, “open a box of this in an elevator and someone might faint” strong. But to true fans? That smell is basically a siren song saying, “Come hither and indulge.”

When Can You Find It?

Durian season in Malaysia usually runs from June to August , which is when you’ll see Musang King everywhere—markets, food stalls, luxury dessert shops, and probably floating down rivers because Malaysia during durian season is chaos.

There’s also a smaller harvest window around November to January, depending on weather and how moody the trees are feeling.

Thanks to modern farming tricks, you can sometimes find it year-round (mostly frozen)—but nothing beats fresh, peak-season Musang King. It’s like comparing a frozen pizza to one made in a wood-fired oven. One feeds your hunger. The other feeds your soul.

Why Is Everyone Obsessed?

Because it’s just that good.

In Malaysia and Singapore, Musang King isn’t just a fruit—it’s a status symbol. A luxury item. People buy boxes of it like it’s designer handbags. And yeah, it costs much more than your average durian, but hey—if you are paying for flavor royalty, you don’t go bargain shopping.

Nowadays, Musang King is everywhere! It's invaded cheesecakes, mochi, ice cream, and even pastries. Feeling brave? You will find it creeping into savory dishes too. Forget D24 – Musang King has officially taken over the world! They even make instant coffee with it now... and let's just say, if I brought that home, my wife would use my head for target practice with her sandal. To her, coffee should never be instant, and durian should always be fresh from the husk!

Final Thoughts

So yeah, the D197 Musang King is kind of a big deal. It’s creamy, bold, bittersweet, and golden like liquid sunshine. Whether you are a durian newbie trying to impress your date or a seasoned pro building your own durian tasting menu at home, this one deserves a spot on your plate.

Just don’t forget to warn your family before you crack one open. Or better yet, do it anyway. Let the aroma speak for itself.