Not Butter, but Margarine Durians!

The era when D24 durians reigned supreme is long gone. Durian seasons are now dominated by exciting species such as the Musang King, Black Thorn, Red Prawn, etc.

The best durians in Subang Jaya are congregated in a corner of USJ 14, next to the Petronas station. There you will find Say Heng, probably the most popular durian stall in all of Subang Jaya, with its variety and abundance.

As you wonder further in along the stretch of stalls, you will see an unnamed durian stall with a gentleman manning it. David Lim, a 2^nd generation durian vendor, has been selling durians here since 1999 (no relations to the author). Unlike your typical durian vendor, the neat and tidy David speaks impeccable English. You wouldn’t blink if I told you David is an English teacher. A self-confessed perfectionist, David personally opens and inspects every single durian before allowing it to be served. So, be prepared to wait a long while, and console yourself the wait only ensures you get served good durians.

Aside from Musang King and Red Prawn, David sells a rarely heard of durian species called Margarine. How would I describe the Margarine durian? Nothing very outstanding about it, but there is something about the Margarine durian that makes it taste just right. It has a big seed; the flesh is creamy and has a bitter-sweet taste.

How does the Margarine compare against the Musang King? Unlike the Musang King, which scores 10 out of 10 on every scale, the Margarine has a milder taste and smell. The flesh is just as creamy but not as filling.

My fellow durian connoiseur, Diane, best describes the Margarine durian, “this taste just like the really good kampung durians back when I was a kid in Sungai Petani. You can’t get those kampung durians anymore nowadays”.

David explained that his Margarine durians are not from the typical durian plantations, but from durian trees growing around the rainforest of Banjaran Titiwangsa. That might explain why the Margarine has a more natural authentic flavour.

As for the price, it’s priced in between the Musang King and the Red Prawn, approximately RM20/kg as at end of June 2019. Don’t be surprised if prices fluctuate wildly, even Bitcoin price fluctuations can’t hold a candle to durian price fluctuations.

Why the name Margarine? I didn’t ask, but, I am sure our Primary Industries Minister YB Teresa Kok, and her palm oil campaign team, will be real proud that this fine durian is named Margarine (and not named after some imported dairy product!).

On weekends, the wait for your durian to be served can be very long, I would suggest to go on weekdays when it’s less crowded. Bring your own drinks too, as David does not sell or offer drinks.

The stall opens from 430pm to 12am daily during durian season. Leave David your phone number and you will receive regular updates via Whatsapp on price and availability (written in his usual crisp English, of course).

To get there, Waze to “David Lim’s Durian Kiosk” and look for the stall furthest in from the main road.

The author, Adrian Lim, is a lifelong Subang Jaya resident, calls himself a makanthon-er who enjoys trying out new food joints. Do you have suggestions of interesting food places in and around greater Subang Jaya he can review? Drop us a line at editor@sjecho.com.my. Reviews are unsolicited.