Durian

Malaysian Durian: A Story of Bitterness Turned Sweet

High-quality Malaysian durians, regardless of the variety, all carry a hint of bitterness—just like the lives of those Malaysian durian orchard owners. This bitterness is buried deep within the flavor, hidden in the flesh of the fruit. Those who do not know the backstory may not understand it. However, those familiar with the self-reliance stories of Malaysian Chinese will resonate with this; I describe this taste as the happiness that comes after enduring hardship.

In recent years, Malaysian durians have become very popular in China, introducing this unique fruit to many people. Durian products have also blossomed everywhere, with a wide variety of choices. The fragrant and creamy texture of durians has been greatly embraced by the Chinese people, quickly securing a place in their taste experiences. In reality, what seems like a rapid ''rise'' of durians has actually been a challenging journey of 50 years, involving the hard work of a generation, numerous failures, and countless tears. The success in durian cultivation has only been achieved in the last five years! It is the perseverance of these people that has finally paid off; after enduring hardships, comes sweetness.



Malaysia is blessed with tropical sunlight and rain that nurture these fruit trees. At the foothills of the central mountain range in Malaysia, there is a group of durian orchard owners who have been working tirelessly and diligently for years. Five years ago, the durian market was not doing well, and many people couldn't hold on, cutting down durian trees and switching to oil palm trees. However, this group of people remained steadfast, treating each durian tree like their own children, regardless of the rainy or dry season, solely for the hope that hadn't been completely extinguished. One example is the Black Thorn Forest in the north. The orchard owner experienced 15 years of failures and persisted for 32 years, planting over 6,000 durian trees on 100 acres of challenging mountain slopes, with the goal of turning the land into a ''forest,'' a ''Black Thorn Forest.'' Black Thorn is one of the finest durian varieties, a gift from nature.



Durian cultivators are a microcosm of Malaysian Chinese. The ancestors of the Chinese came to this land with nothing, relying on self-reliance, unafraid of hardships, and striving forward. After three hundred years, they finally rooted themselves in this land. However, they have not forgotten their roots, carrying a sense of respect for their ancestors and working hard to build and promote Chinese culture. Today, Chinese education in Malaysia is the most widespread and well-developed in the world outside of China.

What is little known is that the vast education system, consisting of 1,300 primary schools using Chinese as the medium of instruction and 60 independent secondary schools, was built through small donations from the local Chinese community. The challenging process of establishing these schools was supported by the firm belief in preserving Chinese culture. Today, these schools not only thrive in the Chinese community but also gain recognition from some indigenous groups. The flourishing Chinese culture has finally rewarded the dedication of the Chinese community.

Look, the spirit of perseverance is everywhere on Malaysian soil. If not for the perseverance of durian orchard owners, we might have one less culinary delight. If not for the persistence of Chinese who never forget their roots, we might have lost our original intentions in the tide of history. Gently bite into a Malaysian durian, and what lingers on the tongue is sweetness, a delicate and long-lasting sweetness; and what remains in the heart is a slight bitterness, a bitter tenacity, a serene bitterness. After a slight bitterness, sweetness returns, because they have worked tirelessly to protect nature's gifts; because they have worked painstakingly to pass down the brilliance of culture!

While paying tribute to the ''durian people'' of Malaysia, we also know that establishing the durian industry is a long and challenging journey. To make the durian business sustainable, we need to establish sustainable sales channels, serving durian enthusiasts from cultivation to market. This task must be carried out by the younger generation.

                Author: Feng Jiuling Editor: Zhao Xin