A recent Reddit thread titled “Musang King before kampung durian – taste difference?” sparked lively debate among durian lovers after one user shared the experience.
PETALING JAYA: For many Malaysians, durian season is a ritual – one measured not by the calendar but also by the slow-peeling of the thorny husks and the first whiff of the fruit.
But some fans have noticed a curious phenomenon – when eating Musang King first, the kampung durian that follows might taste strangely bland or even “off”.
A recent Reddit thread titled “Musang King before kampung durian – taste difference?” sparked lively debate among durian lovers after one user shared the experience.
“I ate Musang King first, then had some kampung durian after, and the kampung durian tasted kinda ‘off’ or almost spoilt at first,” the user wrote.
“But after a while, the taste came back and was fine again.”
The post quickly drew dozens of comments from Malaysians who have had the same experience, confirming that the powerful flavour of Musang King could overpower milder varieties.
“You’re not alone!” wrote one user.
“Musang King is so intense it can definitely overwhelm your taste buds. Kampung durian is much more subtle, so it might seem bland or even a bit off after MK.”
Another added that kampung durian is unpredictable in taste.
“If you’re lucky, it can be as good as Musang King, but mostly it’s just normal.
“Like everyone said, Musang King is fatty and strong-flavoured. It dulls your senses, kind of like how ice cream tastes strong at first but flat after a few bites.”
For many, the trick lies in sequence.
“All the orang tua told me to eat Musang King last,” one user wrote.
“It’ll make everything else taste off if you start with it.”
Others agreed that Musang King should always be saved for the last.
“Once you start with Musang King’s bitter-creamy punch, any kampung durian will feel ‘off’ at first because your taste buds are spoiled by the king,” said another.
“I usually eat XO or kampung first and only Musang King at the end.”
Several users even shared palate-cleansing tips.
“Your taste buds are overloaded,” said one.
“Rinse your mouth with water or eat some rice to reset.”
Another added: “Coffee works too – great palate cleanser between durian varieties.”
One netizen summed it up best:
“If I eat Musang King first, everything else tastes bland.
Always save the king for last – it’s too strong and flavourful, it’ll cover up all the others.”
Malaysians agree that Musang King truly lives up to its royal title. Its rich, strong aroma and creamy texture reign supreme.
But eat it too soon, and no other durian would “stand a chance” against its flavour.
Durian fan Alicia Tan, 29, said she learned that lesson the hard way.
“Once you start with Musang King, everything else tastes like sweet glue,” she said.
“Now, my friends and I always go from lightest to the strongest – kampung, D24, XO and only then Musang King.”
Faiz Rahman agreed that sequence makes or breaks the experience.
“Musang King has that creamy, bitter kick that stays on your tongue for ages,” he said.
“It’s like eating dark chocolate before milk chocolate – you can’t taste the mild one after.
“It’s not that kampung durian is bad, it’s just overpowered.”
