About 350 people wore contented smiles after dining on the “King of Fruits” in this durian degustation session
Now into its seventh year, the Durian Mobilization was first initiated in 2008 by popular food blogger Dr Leslie Tay, of ieatishootipost.sg, to help durian lovers gain a deeper appreciation for the different varieties of durian.
In the annual gathering, people from all walks of life come together to pay homage to the “King of Fruits”.
This year’s event was co-organised by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and Dr Tay.
Aromatic and Fleshy
Participants were treated to a decadent durian feast with two main types of the spiky green fruit – the Mao Shan Wang
and D24 varieties, supplied by the highly sought after Ah Seng Durian. The limited variety was due to a less fruitful harvest caused by the recent dry spell.
The feast kicked off with the popular D24 durian. Despite the limited range this year, the quality was premium. Participants were even allowed to exchange the durians if they weren’t too ripe, or even if they weren’t satisfied with the taste. The participants, young and old, couldn’t resist popping the thick and creamy D24, piece after piece.
Finally, we were struck by the strong aroma of the Mao Shan Wang. Needless to say, the intense and buttery flavour tantalised even the most discerning taste buds of picky Singaporeans.
Mangosteen was also served at the end, as it was traditionally known to reduce “heatiness” after the consumption of durians.
Durian Lovers, Unite!
Besides devouring the delicious durians, it was also a good opportunity for Singaporeans to rekindle the “Kampung spirit” by bonding over a common love for this unique fruit.
Participants were also given the opportunity to become better connoisseurs by learning more about the different durian cultivars.
By Lim Wan Ling
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