What it actually is
D24, also called Sultan, is one of Malaysia’s oldest registered durian clones. It was registered on 30 November 1937 and came from Bukit Merah in Perak. It was the benchmark Malaysian durian before Musang King became the better-known premium variety.
It is a medium-sized fruit, usually about 1.5 to 2.5kg. D24 is still a useful reference point because its flavour sits between simple sweetness and the stronger bitterness that some experienced durian eaters look for.
XO is not a separate clone. It is D24 left longer on the tree to ferment, which gives it a more pungent, alcoholic bitterness. See the Malaysian clone register for how D-number registrations work.
How to spot it
Look first at the base. A proper D24 has its clearest marker there: a roughly 20-cent-coin-sized patch with no thorns, usually brown. Buyers often call this the “20 cent sign”. Unlike Musang King, it does not have a star-shaped pattern at the base.
The husk is light green to greenish brown, sometimes with a yellowish cast when very ripe. The fruit is usually oval or slightly elongated, but can look lopsided or even heart-shaped. A brown ring near the top, close to the stem, is another useful clue.
Its shell is thinner than Musang King’s. The thorns are fine, sharp and fairly even around the husk, with smaller spikes than Musang King’s broader thorns. Their hooked shape is mainly at the tips. Inside, look for pale yellow to off-white flesh, sometimes a warmer yellow, rather than Musang King’s deep turmeric colour. Seeds are medium-sized, though some are described as large.
Use several markers together, not a single one. The guide to choosing durian is useful when you are checking ripeness and condition at the stall.
What it tastes like
A good D24 is creamy, smooth and custard-like. The flesh is thick, soft and slightly sticky, with a buttery feel that melts in the mouth. Its flavour is balanced bittersweet, though it generally leans sweet before a lingering bitterness appears.
The aroma is clearly durian, but milder and less overpowering than Musang King. That makes D24 a common starting point for newcomers who want a proper durian flavour without Musang King’s greater intensity.
Compared with Musang King, D24 is paler, softer in flavour and less forceful. Compared with XO, ordinary D24 is less fermented and less alcoholic-tasting. If you enjoy bitter, pungent durian, a well-fermented XO may suit you better. If that sharp edge puts you off, choose regular D24.
What to watch for
The main confusion is XO. Sellers sometimes present XO as though it were a separate clone, but it is D24 handled differently on the tree. Ask whether you are buying regular D24 or XO, especially if you do not want the fermented, pungent bitterness.
Learn the word potato before you buy one. In the trade it describes flesh that has come out dry, firm and starchy rather than creamy, which is what an under-ripe fruit gives you, and it is a word you will hear used about D24 more than about most varieties. It is worth knowing because it is a defect you can see and feel rather than a matter of taste: creamy is the aim, and a dry, crumbly texture means the fruit was not ready, whatever the grade on the box said. This is trade shorthand rather than a measured failure rate, so treat it as a check to make rather than a verdict on the variety.
Also compare prices properly. A whole D24 priced by the kilogram includes husk and seed, while packed flesh is priced for edible fruit only. Published figures put edible flesh at 15 to 30 per cent of whole-fruit weight, so the two prices are not directly comparable.
Weight is worth checking too. The ASEAN durian standard gives D24 an expected range of 1.0 to 3.0 kg, so an unusually small or large one sits outside what the standard treats as typical. Musang King, listed there under its clone number D197, carries exactly the same range, so weight alone will not separate the two. That standard is also where the real quality classes come from, which are not the letters most stalls use: see how durian is graded.
D24 is usually most available during Malaysia’s main season from June to August, often into September. In 2026, a bumper harvest has brought prices down sharply from recent years. Check the 2026 durian season update before treating a stall price as unusually good or bad.
Who it suits
D24 suits beginners who want creamy, recognisable durian with some bitterness but not too much aroma. It also suits experienced eaters who want a calmer contrast beside a stronger Musang King or fermented XO.
Try it alongside Musang King if you want to understand why D24 was once the benchmark. The thinner shell and softer flavour make the comparison especially clear.