D164 Khun Poh

Let me tell you about one of Penang’s local durian legends — the D164 Khun Poh. If durians had a hall of fame, this one would have its own corner with a spotlight and maybe even its own fragrance diffuser (you’ll understand why in a minute).

So what’s the deal with the name?
Its fancy registered name is Ang Bak, which means “red flesh” in Hokkien — and yup, it’s named after its striking orangey-red flesh. But most people just call it "Khun Poh", in memory of the late durian master who cultivated it. This gem originally came from Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau, right in the heart of Penang’s durian territory. The original tree’s gone now, but its “children” — second-generation trees — are still around and going strong at over 40 years old.

How does it look?
Okay, so the outside (the husk) is green and kind of bulges at each lobe — like it just finished a gym session. The thorns? Wild. They're irregular, sometimes hook-shaped or looking like tiny flames. Not the easiest to open, unless you’ve trained in durian martial arts. It also has a pretty short stem — kind of like it’s got a buzzcut.

Inside? Oof. The flesh is where it shines. Deep orange or reddish-yellow, soft and sticky, like creamy custard that just wants to hug your tongue. It’s basically nature’s dessert.

The taste? Hold on to your tastebuds.
This one doesn’t play around. It’s got that classic bittersweet combo — like life, but tastier. Heavy aroma? Absolutely. It smells like honey had a spa day with flowers. Some folks (the really hardcore durian people) claim they taste caramel, vanilla, a little coffee liqueur, even milk chocolate. It’s basically a whole dessert tray rolled into one fruit. And the flavor lingers too — like a good story you keep thinking about afterward.

Fun fact:
Khun Poh actually took the crown in a durian competition back in 1989 (though some say it was 1991 — durian history is surprisingly mysterious). It’s earned a place as one of Penang’s all-time favourites. Oh, and those durians people call “600”, “700”, or “Small Red”? Yeah… chances are, they’re actually just Khun Poh in disguise.

Can you get it outside Penang?
Eh… not really. Because of how soft and creamy it is, it doesn’t travel well. So unless you’re in Penang, getting your hands on this durian is like trying to find a unicorn wearing a sarong. That’s why it’s known as the "infamous durian you almost never see outside Penang."

In short: Khun Poh is that rich, mysterious, charming type — bold in flavor, soft on the inside, and a little hard to open up. But once you do? Total magic.