D169 Tok Litok

Okay, let me introduce you to another cool durian, the D169, locally known as Tok Litok. This one's a proper registered durian clone here in Malaysia, so you know it's legit!

Name Tag and Hometown

So, its official government ID is D169, but everyone just calls it Tok Litok. It got itself registered back in May 1989. And guess what? It hails from Tanah Merah, Kelantan, and it was registered by the same person who gave us the famous D197 Musang King! Talk about a durian legend!

What's Tok Litok Look Like?

Tok Litok is a pretty decent-sized durian, usually weighing in at a good 1.5 to 3 kilograms. So, not a tiny baby, but not a monster either – just right for sharing (or not, no judgment here!). It's usually oval or ellipsoid, but sometimes, bless its heart, it can be a bit wonky – like kidney-shaped or lopsided. It'll have these clear grooves showing where the yummy sections are. It tapers off nicely at the top and bottom.

Its skin is a yellowish-green or light green, and watch out – the spines are sharp and long! They can be packed together pretty tightly and even curve at the tips. The spines near the stem are fine and short, while the ones on the fruit segments are thicker and longer. The rind is moderately thick, around 1.3 cm. Now, despite that, it can be moderately difficult to open, even with its "thin wall" – sneaky durian! The tips of the spines are brown, the middle is yellowish-green, and the base is green, giving it a bit of a gradient look.

Peeling Back the Layers... (Literally!)

Alright, now for the good stuff inside!

• Flesh Color: This durian gives you a nice thick, yellow, bright yellow, or even a bronze-yellow flesh. Sometimes it can lean towards whitish-yellow. Think sunshine in a fruit!
• Texture: It's thick and firm, super smooth, but some folks say it can be a little fibrous or coarse. It's got good "body."
• Taste Profile: This is where it gets exciting! Tok Litok has an excellent taste. It's generally sweet, wonderfully creamy, rich, and has that lovely fatty durian goodness. You might even catch a slight bitterness or a lingering bitter note, which I personally love. Some people even describe a "fat" taste, which just means it's super rich and satisfying. While some might say "no bitterness," trust me, a hint of it is usually there and it makes it even better!
• Seeds: Unlike our Golden Phoenix friend, Tok Litok has some chunky seeds. About 71% are full seeds, with 29% being half-full. Don't expect many empty ones here! Typically, each section will have two good arils (that's the fleshy part) ready for you.
• Aroma: It has a pleasant aroma, thankfully not one that will clear a room! It's usually described as slight or not overly strong, which is a bonus if you're sensitive to the super pungent ones.

When Can You Get Your Hands on Tok Litok?

The D169 Tok Litok is usually a mid-season durian. Here in Peninsular Malaysia, our main durian party usually kicks off from May to August, with a smaller "encore" season in November to December. Basically, if we've had some good dry weather to get the trees flowering, you know the durians are on their way! Keep your eyes peeled for this one in the middle of the durian rush. You won't regret it!