Musang King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Musang King Mao Shan Wang Raja Kunyit
Cultivar	D197
Origin	Malaysia, 1980s

Musang King, also known as Mao Shan Wang (Chinese: 猫山王; pinyin: Māo Shān Wáng) or D197, is a special type of durian. Durian is a famous fruit from Southeast Asia. People love Musang King for its unique taste. It has a mix of bitter and sweet flavors.

This makes it very popular in Malaysia and Singapore. It often costs more than other durians because it's so good. In China, some people even call it the "Hermes of durian." This means it's considered a luxury fruit.

History of Musang King

Musang King was first called Raja Kunyit. This name means "Turmeric King." It got this name because its flesh is a deep yellow color, like the spice turmeric.

In the 1980s, a man named Tan Lai Fook found a special durian tree. He was in a place called Gua Musang in Kelantan, Malaysia. He took a branch from this tree. He brought it back to his home in Raub, Pahang.

There, he used the branch to grow new trees. Other farmers liked this new type of durian. They started growing it too. The durian was named after Gua Musang, where it was first found. The Chinese name, Mao Shan Wang, means "Cat Mountain King." This might sound like "Musang." Or it could be about the Asian palm civet, a cat-like animal called "musang" in Malay.

In 2017, Musang King made history. It was the first durian to have its entire genetic code mapped. Scientists studied its genes. They found reasons why Musang King has such a strong smell and taste.

What Musang King Looks Like

Musang King durian has a special look and taste. Its flesh is bright yellow. It feels buttery and thick. The taste is strong, with a hint of bitterness.

The outside skin, called the husk, is a dusky green color. It has a clear star shape at the bottom. The thorns on the husk are shaped like pyramids. They are not packed very close together.

Gallery

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  A whole Musang King durian

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  Musang King durians for sale in Singapore