The Superpowers Of Durian Hijau That Made It Super 10
Throughout our childhood, we are constantly entertained by the thought that certain foods can give us certain types of special superpowers when eaten.
Think about spinach for Popeye, the longevity peach for the monkey god, or even the famous mushrooms of Super Mario.
So when I first saw the name super 10 on a durian, the first playful thought that came to mind was that it must carry some kind special powers.
Maybe it would be like the red pill of The Matrix, the honey from Winnie The Pooh, or maybe like gummibery juice from the Gummy Bears.
But of course I woke up moments later and reminded myself that durian by itself already has a superpower. It helps our sense of taste enter another dimension momentarily and then brings us back down to earth as we finish the fruit.
No, really. That’s what the textbook says 😀
In all seriousness, Super 10 durian carries this name today because it used to be called D10 many years ago. And because of it’s potent flavour, consumers found that just calling it D10 felt like shortchanging what this cultivar really deserves in terms of reputation.
So the word “super” was inserted in front of it. Then the term “super 10” stuck.
While it’s official name is durian hijau, it also has various other aliases including green head and monk’s head which is a reference to it’s shape. And then there is also mouse, batu, and durian hijau, with no relation to green skin 15. But what might catch people’s attention the most is the moniker musang king imposter, not to be confused with the musang queen which is a reference to tekka.
With an alternative name like that, surely you’d think that it must look or taste like mao shan wang one way or another. We’ll talk about that later.
The origin story around super 10 is a little sketchy with some claiming it has it’s roots in Penang, while others would insist that it originated from Pahang.
The interesting part is that durian hijau is actually a registered durian variety at MARDI with the number D10. Albeit a lesser known cultivar. And the address of the registrant is at an area at the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. There’s also a durian known in East Malaysia as durian hijau, but most people would agree to disagree that that is definitely not the same as D10.
I’ve spent some time investigating into it’s origins by asking old-timers in the durian world and it has led me nowhere. So it’s a durian that is shrouded in mystery.
And that might as well be the case as the only reason I was able to taste it was that I was at the right place at the right time. A farmer carried it in his hands while emerging from his farmland and generously offered it to me.
I am grateful.
Before that, durian hijau was an elusive one for me as I’ve only heard about it but never seen it in real life.
Features of super 10 durian
This is a medium sized fruit.
The shape is rounded in a way that it resembles the shape of head. Which is why it has the nicknames green head and monk’s head.
Durians have a funny way of fiddling with our sense of humour.
There’s D88 that looks like it’s pregnant, there’s capri that can resemble the shape of a heart, then sunset reminds us of nature’s beauty, and let’s not forget tenom beauty which ignites fiery passion within you.
D10 looks like the head of a mutant that belongs in the next movie of the X-Men franchise.
The husk is expectantly green in the manner of d13. The thorns are small and short like red prawn. And the bottom where the seams meet is slightly bald. The bald area then stretches out to the seams creating seam lines that look like tyre track marks on a grass field.
These seam lines can be outrageously obvious on some durians. Add this to the very rounded shape of the fruit, if you look at it from the bottom view, it might resemble the wheels of a bicycle or the helm of a ship. This depends on your imagination.
With a thin husk, this is one durian that is effortless to open. The thin husk become even more evident as you pry and pull apart it to reveal the flesh.
The bulging pulps of yellow fruitlets combined with the thin husk can create a visual impression resembling that of big bun.
But what’s different is that it has much smaller seeds that are of average size. Many will also be flat like musang king. Making this a very high yield durian fully suited for those who seek good value for money in terms of how much of what you buy is edible.
The taste is bitter plus alcohol and a hint of sweetness. You should also be able to discover a fusion of cream milk in it. It’s durian flavour is also somewhat different.
It packs quite a strong flavour. Nothing mild about it like D88. Some people compare it’s taste to 101 and D13.
However, I can see why this durian is not as widespread in popularity to consumers.
Well, one obvious reason is that not many farmers are cultivating them in their farmland. And the big reason for that is that this particular cultivar is fiercely inconsistent. Almost as if it’s playing the role of joker in a group.
Inconsistent in the sense that the quality of fruits and fruitlets can vary distinctively. Even when they are from the same old tree.
Such durians can leave consumers very frustrated and farmers tearing their hair out.
Yet a high quality one can be as good as the best of musang king. Which is why even with the inconsistency, people are still willing to buy it in the hope that they get lucky with a premium quality fruit. Thus the nickname fake musang king.
I can see why super 10 is not often seen around in stalls and farms. Those who kept the trees do so for a memento and trophy.
Durian hijau harvest season
Super d10 is a mid-season durian and starts dropping in late May.
This is not an easy durian to procure because there are not many trees that are cared for by farmers.
I have never seen it in Penang even though I know people who have got their hands on it on the island. Not that I’m everywhere all of the time. I have just never seen it. The one I had as mentioned before was in Perak.
I’ve heard rumours that there is a 100+ year old tree at the south area of Penang island. But again, I have never seen it, nor verified this story.
The best chance of getting it is probably in more famous durian stores in Kuala Lumpur. SS2 is where the party’s at.