A variation of D24, not a clone
Start with the fact that settles most of this comparison: XO is not a registered clone. It does not appear on Malaysia’s clone register and has no D number. One orchard worker quoted by Kosmo calls it a variation of D24, and SAYS puts its slightly bitter, alcoholic taste down to fermentation inside the shell.
Where and for how long the fruit ferments is not written down in any standard. Accounts differ, and some sources treat XO as a distinct type. So the safest way to think about it is as a ripeness style of D24 rather than a breed. The reference entries for D24 and XO cover the spotting details if you want to check a specific claim.
What the fermentation changes
The Department of Agriculture describes D24 flesh as sweet, rich, firm and fine-textured, with a slight bitterness. SAYS gives XO’s flavour as sweet and slightly alcoholic. The name comes from XO liquor, because of the slightly bitter, alcoholic taste that fermentation inside the shell gives it.
On bitterness the sources put the two level: both are described as slightly bitter. SAYS gives XO’s texture as creamy with a hint of firmness, close to D24’s, so texture alone will not tell you which one you have.
Why the price can differ
If XO is a variation of D24, any price gap has to be explained by something other than a rarer clone, because there is no separate clone. Fermentation is not controlled by any grading standard, so two fruits sold as XO can come out quite differently. A seller cannot promise a consistent result the way they can with ordinary D24, and there is no register or written specification to hold a premium against.
The D2 mislabel
A second, unrelated mistake compounds the first. XO is sometimes sold under the label “D2”. D2 is a real, separate registered clone called Dato Nina, from Melaka, registered in 1934, and it has nothing to do with XO.
This matters beyond plain accuracy. Anyone who looks up “D2 durian” to check what they are being sold will be reading about a different fruit. And a made-up D number on XO reinforces the idea that it is a distinct registered clone, which is the misunderstanding this comparison exists to correct.
How to check what you are buying
Because “XO” has no written definition and no register entry, the name on its own tells you very little. A few checks do more work.
Ask the seller directly whether the fruit is ordinary D24 or XO, and how it was handled. A seller who cannot say is guessing.
Check the fruit is D24 in the first place. The Department of Agriculture lists a spine-free patch at the base about the size of a 5 sen coin, a distinct corky ring, and sharp thorns with one noticeably smaller thorn in every five. There is no separate XO look.
Taste before you buy if the stall allows it. A fruit sold as XO that tastes like ordinary sweet D24, with no alcoholic finish, is not giving you what the label charges for.
Compare the price with plain D24 that same week. The guide to choosing durian covers the ripeness checks that apply to both.
Who should buy which
D24 first, if you are unsure. It is the base fruit, sweet and rich with a slight bitterness, and the safer choice if you have never tried either.
XO only if you already know you like the alcoholic edge that fermentation adds, ideally after you have tried standard D24 so you have something to compare it against. Buying XO as a first durian risks judging the whole fruit by its most extreme version.
| D24 | XO | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered clone? | Yes: Sultan, 1937 | No. Sold as a variation of D24 |
| Bitterness | Slightly bitter | Slightly bitter |
| Taste | Sweet, rich, slightly bitter | Sweet, slightly bitter, alcoholic |
| Texture | Firm, fine | Creamy with a hint of firmness |
| Price | Baseline | Check against D24 that week |
| Best for | First-timers | Eaters who like an alcoholic note |