Penang Durians

Identifying Good Penang Durians Durians in the tree (30 May 2009) © Timothy Tye All the best durians of Penang are known by where they come from. Most of these were planted by serious durian enthusiasts a few decades ago, and now their children are harvesting the fruit of their labour, literally so to speak. Durian planters name their trees, caring for them like family heirloom. They can tell you exactly how the durian is going to taste like, and how it will appear. Appearance-wise, many people like durians with dark yellow to golden-colored flesh, although the taste is often unrelated to the appearance. The best durian trees were planted about thirty to thirty five years ago. Although younger trees may bear the same name as their parents, they cannot match the older trees in terms of quality. When visiting durian farms, it is therefore necessary to go to farms with plenty of well-maintained older trees. Durian trees require a lot of care to produce good durians. Rot and termite-attack can affect the health of durian trees and affect both the quantity produced as well as quality. Most durian plantations set up netting to prevent the durians from hitting the ground, as the impact will damage the flesh within. Penang people appreciate durians that are soft and flavorful. The flesh has to be uniformly soft - if any part of the flesh is harder than the rest, the durian is considered poor quality. Generally, thick-flesh durians with a small seed are preferred over thin-flesh durians. A thin membrane encases the fresh. The flesh should separate from the seed without sticking to it. The taste should range from sweet to bittersweet. Durian connoisseur can identify the name of the durian by taste. The "aroma" of fresh durians - which many foreigner visitors might find to be obnoxiously unpleasant - is what the locals crave for. The aroma of the durian is strongest around the stem part of the fruit, and weakest at the tail end. The flesh at the top part of the durian is the finest quality The full-body aroma can only be appreciated at the durian farms themselves, by consuming durians that have freshly dropped from the tree the night before. The longer it is kept, the less fresh it gets. For that reason, supermarket durians and plastic-wrapped, refrigerated durians cannot measure up. Where durians are concerned, size doesn't matter. The best tasting durians can come from the smallest to the biggest of fruits. Having said that, however, through my personal experience, the better durians range from the small to the medium sized. Durians are never plucked. They must drop from the tree naturally. Climatic factors affect the quality of durians, even from the best trees. The most flavorful durians are those that drop from the tree during a dry spell - the aroma and taste will be strongest. Too much rain during the budding and ripening seasons will have an adverse effect, the former causing blossoms to drop while the latter diluting the taste. Continuous rainy days over a period would adversely affect the quality of the durian. Durians that fall during a thunderstorm or heavy downpour are not of the best quality. It is not sufficient simply to consume the durians, it is also required that we know what durian we are consuming. Click here for a listing of Penang durians. People who know their durian will be able to name them (my own favorites include the Xiao Hong and the Yah Kang). To stuff yourself with durians without knowing what you are eating is like gobbling chocolate with your eyes shut. That, to me, is a waste of good durians. D11 "Number Eleven" is a very popular durian in the 70's. It has creamy yellow flesh with a pleasant taste and a subtle smell. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. D604 The D604 was first cultivated by the late Mr. Teh Hew Hong of Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau. The flesh is quite sweet, and has some "body" to it as the seed is small. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. D600 This durian originates in Sungai Pinang in Balik Pulau. The flesh has a bittersweet taste to it, with a touch of sourness. The one that I documented is a bit hard. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. D700 The flesh is darker than D600, like chrome yellow. Also slightly hard. Crispy, but the smell is not very strong. Ang Sim (Red Heart) Ang Sim is a durian with flesh which is quite soft and very sweet, and dark yellow in colour. It also has a nice aroma. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004 and again in 2006. Khun Poh This durian takes the name of the late Mr Lau Khun Poh, who first budded it. Khun Poh has beautiful orangy flesh with a slightly bitter-sweet taste and a heavy aroma. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. Hor Loh (Water Gourd Durian) The flesh of the Hor Loh is very soft, dry and quite bitter. It has a sharp smell to it. Hor Loh was first cultivated at the Brown orchard of Sungai Ara. It got its name from its appearance resembling a "Hor Lor" pumpkin. If the durian hits the ground hard when it falls, the flesh tends to be bitter thereafter. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004 and again in 2006. Ang Heh (Red Prawn Durian) Ang Heh originates from Pondok Upeh, Balik Pulau, and has a round-shaped husk. The orange reddish flesh is highly aromatic, very soft with a bitter-sweet taste. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004 and again in 2006. Xiao Hung (Little Red Durian) Xiao Hung, whose name means "Little Red One," originates in Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau. The flesh has a bittersweet taste to it, with a touch of sourness. The one that I tasted for this write-up is a bit hard. There are only one or two seeds per section, but the flesh is thick. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. Yah Kang (Centipede Durian) Yah Kang is one of my favourite durians. Although its flesh is whitish, the taste is superb, milky, like very sweet, melting chocolate. The name "yah kang" means centipede, and accounts for the number of centipedes found at the foot of the tree, hence giving it the rather unusual name. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004 and again in 2006. Bak Eu (Pork Fat Durian) Bak Eu has a slightly acidic aroma. The flesh is whitish while the taste is quite bitter but nice. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2004. The following are some of the durians I tried the first time at Peng Siew Durian orchard in Titi Serong, Balik Pulau, on the 2006 AsiaExplorers Durian Feast, on 17 June, 2006. D17 D17 is dark cream flesh. The taste is slightly dry but sweet. It is a tasty durian. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. Coupling This durian is gets its unusual name because it looks like two durians joined together, one big and one small. When split open, you almost thought the two halves belong to two different durians. Coupling has whitish flesh which is slightly dry but tastes good. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. Ooi Kyau (Tumeric Durian) The name Ooi Kyau (tumeric) describes the colour of the bright yellow flesh of this durian. It is very sweet and tasty. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. Chaer Phoy (Green Skin Durian) Chaer Phoy is shaped like a small canteloupe. The skin is bright green, giving it the name which means "green skin". Chaer Phoy has creamy white flesh which is a bit dry, not too sweet but tasty. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. Ang Jin (Red Yoke Durian) As the name suggests, Ang Jin Durian has deep orange flesh. It is very sweet and tasty. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. Lin Fong Jiau This durian is named after Lin Fong Jiau, aka Mrs Jackie Chan. I wonder whether it is indicative of the relationship of the celebrity couple, for Lin Fong Jiau is a bittersweet durian, for too bitter for my liking. The flesh is whitish and wet. AsiaExplorers first documented this durian in 2006. The following durian is what I tried the first time at Bao Sheng orchard in Titi Kerawang, on the 2007 AsiaExplorers Durian Feast, on 24 May, 2007. D15 The D15 has yellow yellow and its taste is sweet with a slight trace of bitterness. The flesh is quite substantial. Durian-related Links AsiaExplorers Durian Page Durian Farms Bao Sheng Durian Farm 2008 Durian Feast 28 June 2008 Durian Feast Report Durian, in The Flowering Garden

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT GREEN ACRES

12 Endangered Animals That People Still Eat

Posted: 09 Apr 2009 03:36 PM PDT

(image via EcoTourism Blog)

Endangered animals often end up as food for humans for reasons such as cultural convention, traditional medicine, economic need, or pure arrogance. While recent reports of people consuming near-extinct species are alarming, this list of commonly eaten endangered species around the world puts those cases in perspective.

Chinese Giant Salamander

(images via Guardian and Melinda on Flickr)

Amphibians as a whole are already on their way towards extinction, but at least they’re not generally found on dinner plates. Unfortunately for the Chinese Giant Salamander, which is the largest amphibian in the world, it is a delicacy in China and the target of illegal hunting.

Chimpanzees & Gorillas

(images via All Creatures, ZSL and Planetsave)

The consumption of bushmeat, often originating from great apes like chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, is a cultural tradition in parts of Africa and it is not viewed as a problem. The species are also suffering a population decline due to deforestation and habitat loss.

Chanook Salmon

(images via Wikipedia, UW News and Oregon Live)

Chanook salmon, found exclusively in the Pacific Northwest, have been on the steady decline for years due to damming of rivers, pollution and over-fishing. While commercial fishing in some areas is subject to annual approval, officials kill sea lions — natural predators of salmon — in order to allow more salmon stocks for fishing in the Columbia River.

Bluefin Tuna

(images via Greenpeace and Doctor Weighs In)

When an endangered species swims under the sea, people tend not to give as much pause before taking a bite. Bluefin tuna is a favorite for sushi in Japan, and despite its incredibly endangered status, is still commercially harvested and sold.

Caribou

(images via Delta News Web and Panoramio)

Caribou populations across North America vary from burgeoning to sparse, but despite protection, the rare populations are still hunted. For instance, the Innu in Quebec hunt the animals from snowmobilesand will slaughter entire herds.

Fin Whales

(images via Biotechnology Learning Hub and Green Diary)

The Japanese whaling fleet claims to kill whales for research, yet not a single study has been published based on their annual hunt. In addition to hundreds of Minke whales, the ships slaughter a few dozenendangered Fin whales every year, which inevitably end up in cans on store shelves.

African Forest Elephants

(image via Daylife)

Elephants are famously poached for their ivory, but forest elephants — the most at-risk elephant species in the world — are also hunted for their flesh. The animals weigh over 5,000 pounds but only yield 1,000 pounds of meat. Combined with the ivory, one elephant kill can land a poacher thousands of dollars.

Green Sea Turtles

(images via Quest Connect and Permanente Journal)

Green sea turtles are hunted for their shells, leather, flesh and fat. Their eggs and meat used to be a delicacy in Hawaii before the Endangered Species Act granted them protection in 1977. However, the turtles are still hunted in Indonesia and other countries in South Asia.

River Dolphins

(images via Conserve Nature and Thinking Out Loud)

Freshwater dolphins — found in the Ganges, Indus and Amazon rivers — suffer from naturally low populations, so the impact of pollution and hunting has been drastic. A species in the Yangtze river wasdriven to extinction in 2006, the first mammal to go extinct in 50 years.

Gaurs/Seladangs

(images via United Nations Vietnam, gotouring.com and kgudi.com)

The gaur, a wild relative to the cow, is a threatened species found in South Asia. While domesticated gaurs called gayals are common, the wild herds are still hunted for their meat. The animals have few predators other than tigers, which they’ve been known to fight off and kill.

Sharks

(images via Shark-Pictures.com and Planetsave)

The Ganges Shark is hunted from the river’s muddy waters for its nutrient-rich oil. Dozens of other species across the world are becoming endangered from the practice of shark finning, where fishermanslice off the fins of live sharks before tossing the animals back into the water to drown. The fins are dried and used to make soup in Asian restaurants

THE WEEK THAT WAS IN PICTURES

(From left) Malaysian beauty queens Deborah Henry, Stephanie Chai and Lina Teoh contribute their efforts in making Earth Hour a success. - 28 March, 2009 Members of a search and rescue team continue to look for victims after a dam wall burst in Tangerang flooding an area near the Indonesian capital Jakarta overnight. The flood killed at least 50 people and left hundreds of homes underwater, the toll is expected to rise as search teams look through submerged homes   Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany compete in the Pairs Free Skate during the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California In this handout photo provided by the Safari Park, Amy, an eight-year-old Lemur, nurses her twin week-old offspring at the Sarafi Park in Ramat Gan, Israel. The baby lemurs were born after a 4-month gestation, and park officials report that mother and babies are doing well A woman shows condoms with a picture of Pope Benedict XVI and reading 'I said No !' in Paris. The condoms are an attempt to mock Pope Benedict XVI after he rejected condoms as a weapon against AIDS during his African trip. Rescue workers evacuate residents from a home along the Red River in Oxbow, North Dakota. Most of the schools and many businesses in the area have been closed so the students and workers could help in the volunteer effort to prepare the area for flooding, a record crest of the Red River is expected in Fargo, just north of Oxbow, on Saturday. Seven babies sit in 'tummy tubs' filled with water to cool down after a baby massage class held for young mothers in Ijmuiden, Holland. The 'cooling down' segment is to simulate a womb-like environment for the infants to experience warmth and comfort The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) rests on the Arctic Ocean after breaking through three feet of ice during Ice Exercise (ICEX). The U.S. Navy teamed with the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory to train in the arctic environment.  A pelican is cleaned of oil deposits by members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at a temporary cleaning facility at Fort Lytton in Brisbane, Australia following the 'Pacific Adventurer' oil spill off Moreton Island. A huge oil slick engulfed the coastal areas surrounding Moreton Island after the vessel lost cargo overboard in Cyclone Hamish, which subsequently punctured the ship and caused the spill. Johan Nungary of Mexico performs during the Red Bull X-Fighters motocross exhibition, in front of the Metropolitan Catedral in Mexico City Several-time beard world champion Elmar Weisser has his beard blow-dried and shaped in Brigachtal, southern Germany, ahead of the upcoming international beard champioships. Some 150 contestants will take part in 17 beard categories Israeli police shoot tear gas as they clash with local Arabs after a provocative march of flags by right-wing Israelis descended into violence in Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel. More than 2,500 police officers had deployed in and around Israel's largest Arab city ahead of the rally, for which the far-rightists had received High Court approval Police and fire fighters inspect a burnt-out FedEx cargo plane after it crash landed on the runway of the Narita International Airport in Tokyo. The FedEx cargo plane en route from China crashed in high winds and exploded in a ball of flames, killing both pilots Indian forest officials inspect the body of a full grown male Wild Royal Bengal Tiger which was hit by a train at Dolan rail bridge near the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Cooch Behar district some 140 kms from Siliguri, 18 June 2007. The tiger, believed to be around 10 years old, was killed trying to cross the train tracks. A picture taken in 1971 shows a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll. France said it will compensate 150,000 victims of nuclear testing carried out in the 1960s in French Polynesia and Algeria, after decades of denying its responsibility. An initial sum of 10 million euros has been set aside for military and civilian staff as well as local populations who fell ill from radiation exposure, Defence Minister Herve Morin told Le Figaro newspaper. Keswick Mountain Festival volunteer Tara Vallente walks on water inside an inflatable sphere on Derwent Water in the Lake District, Keswick, England. The new floating adventure is one of the hundreds of activities available to the public as part of this year's Mountain Festival.