GEORGE TOWN - Now is the time to eat like a king in Penang, where “high-end” durians are concerned.

A kilogram of the highly sought-after Musang King variant, for example, is being sold for RM30 to RM45 (S$9 to S$13), compared with last year’s price of RM80 to RM90 per kg.

And the bittersweet XO variant, not commonly grown in Penang, is selling for as low as RM20 per kg.

Previously, the price could go up to RM80 to RM100 during the peak season.

Penang’s durian season is typically from May to August.

Most of the durians sold in Penang now come from Perak or Pahang, which are among the states that enjoy a short year-end durian season that lasts until January.

But even after being transported to Penang, a kilogram of Musang King is retailing for just RM30 to RM45.

Durian seller Edward Lim, 30, said the durians are now cheap because of a bumper harvest in Pahang orchards.

“We get some from Tapah in Perak too, but the most popular ones are from Raub (in Pahang),” said Mr Lim. He said Pahang’s durian season started about two months ago and is expected to continue until the end of January.

The “lower grades” of Musang King, he said, cost about RM30 per kg. “And the same goes for other popular variants such as Teik Kah and Black Thorn. We are told that the lower price is also due to lower demand from China, which has been facing pandemic lockdowns and restrictions until recently,” he said.

Another durian seller, who wanted to be known only as Mr Goh, said he is selling top grade Musang King by the roadside near Pulau Tikus market at RM45 per kg.

“This is considered very cheap. Everyone who hasn’t tried Musang King because it’s expensive should really try now,” he said.

Durian farmer Nasir Sulaiman, 45, said the bumper crop of durians in Pahang is probably due to a change in the weather in the southern part of the peninsula.

“In April, the region experienced a bit of rain, but through May and June, the weather was hot, which caused durian trees in Pahang to flower in abundance,” he said.

He added that there are Musang King durians from Ipoh and central Perak, but those from Pahang are preferred because they are sweeter.

He hopes that durian prices will go up in 2023 when durian fans, especially those from China, make a return following the easing of travel restrictions.

Even the Malaysian King and Queen took the chance to check out some durian stalls in Sungai Karang, Kuantan, on Sunday.

Istana Negara said in a Facebook post that Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah and his wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, spent some time with the traders and chatted with visitors.

“His Majesty bought a meal as well as durian before departing for Abdulaziz Palace,” the post stated. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK