Malaysia’s Musang King durian has won the prestigious “King of Kings” durian title at the 2025 World Durian Championships.
The competition in Malaysia’s Bangi Golf Resort in Selangor on 13 July saw 96 of the best durian varieties challenging for the title including Tekka, Tupai King, Kim Hong and D13.
But it was the Musang King durian from We Go Farm that stole the show with its rich, complex flavour and buttery texture.
The judges, made up of chefs, food experts and durian aficionados, looked for a balance of sweetness, bitterness, aroma and creaminess and the Musang King delivered.
If you’re excited about having this thorny adventure, you won’t have long to wait.
Chow Luck Club is partnering with Duria NZ to bring you the first Auckland Durian Festival.
Duria is the exclusive agent and importer of Duria Malaysia products in New Zealand, and offers a variety of durian products, including whole fruits and pulp, with a particular emphasis on the Musang King durian.
Duria is a pioneer in Malaysia for manufacturing and exporting durian products.
At the festival at ParkCity in Auckland, you will be able to experience not just the fruit, but unique durian pastries, cakes and dishes such as durian kampung fried rice and durian chicken soup.
The market extravaganza will run from 10am to 3pm, and there will be a competition where winners will get a chance to eat at a session of “all-you-want” Musang King durian.
The festival promises fun for all ages, with about 50 stalls offering a range of delicious eats that are not just durian, and there will also be live entertainment and a bouncy castle for the kids.
For the uninitiated, durian is a Southeast Asian fruit with a spiky exterior and odour so strong that it’s banned from airlines and hotels across the globe.
Here in Auckland, it is growing in popularity and you can now find them stuffed in pastries, used in bubble teas and even as an ingredient in hot pots.
Durian’s distinct scent is an acquired aroma.
Kimkun Lai, who owns bubble tea specialty store, Twentea in Ponsonby, said its durian latte is its bestseller.
“We used real Musang King durian pulp to make our durian latte, and many of our customers just love the iconic aroma,” Lai said.
He said a growing number are “converting” from haters to lovers of the fruit.
“Even if they don’t initially like it, once they get over the pungent smell, many end up falling in love with durian’s rich and luscious taste,” Lai added.
Clement Lim, a co-organiser of the Auckland Durian Festival, said Musang King is his preferred choice of durian.
“Musang King is famous for its buttery flesh, thick meat and a balance of sweet and bitter flavours with a hint of caramel,” Lim said.
“It is a favourite among durian enthusiasts because of its exceptional taste and quality.”
Lim and his wife Caren also own the Yuan Taste chain of bakery cafes, and will be serving up durian egg tarts and durian seri muka at the upcoming durian festival.
Musang King durians brought in by Duria NZ will also be sold on the day. While they’re fresh frozen and not the just-fallen-from-the-tree kind you find in Asia, these are the next best thing here .
The Auckland Durian Festival will be held on Saturday 9 August 2025 at ParkCity, 261 Morrin Road, St John’s from 10am to 3pm. Admission is free, and there’ll be plenty of free parking on site too.
1st AUCKLAND DURIAN FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday, 09 August 2025
TIME: 10am to 3pm
WHERE: ParkCity, 261 Morrin Road, St John’s, Auckland. Free entry, Free parking
