What it actually is
Golden Phoenix is D198. A Malaysian durian blog that tracks the Department of Agriculture register reports that in March 2013 “Durian Kim Hong, owned by Tan Sue Seng from Batu Pahat, Johor was registered as D198”. A register list names the same number Jin Feng, the Chinese name for Golden Phoenix, and gives the state as Johor. Specialty Produce says the variety is “primarily localized to Johor” and is sometimes grown in the Cameron Highlands in Pahang. It also says the variety is “much older” than its 2013 registration. We have not found a source that explains how the three names relate beyond that.
Golden Phoenix is a different fruit from the Musang King and D24 that dominate the stalls. Specialty Produce reports that Singapore durian fans have nicknamed it the “poor man’s Mao Shan Wang”, because it has a similar complex flavour at a lower price. That is a trade nickname, not an official pairing. We have not found a source for the “Queen to Musang King’s King” line that some sellers use.
How to spot it
Start with size. Specialty Produce says Golden Phoenix averages “no more than 1.5 kilograms”, is round to oval, and is “sometimes being able to fit in the palm of a hand”. We have not found a source comparing its size to every other named clone, so use size as a hint, not proof.
DurianPenang describes the husk as green, greenish-brown or even a bit grey depending on where the tree grew, thin enough that you can often crack it open by hand, with five seams at the bottom. The spines are “sharp and pointy, like little pyramids”, thicker in the middle of the fruit and daintier and curving inwards near the stem and base.
Open it up and the flesh is pale yellow to almost white, sometimes described as “banana milk-like”. The same page says the seeds are “super small and flat”, so you get a high flesh-to-seed ratio. Remember that whole fruit per kg and packed flesh per kg are different prices. A 2026 review in Frontiers in Nutrition says the edible pulp of durian generally accounts for 15 to 30 per cent of total fruit weight. We have not found a measured figure for Golden Phoenix itself.
What it tastes like
DurianPenang describes the texture as “velvety, smooth, soft”, “thick and moist, sometimes almost watery, sometimes super creamy”. Specialty Produce gives the same velvety, smooth, soft and watery consistency.
On taste, Specialty Produce says “mild but complex”, layered with floral sweetness followed by a slight alcoholic bitterness. DurianPenang adds that some people taste hints of nuts, vanilla, caramel and “a little tang”. We have not found a source describing acidity as the defining trait of this variety.
Sources disagree on the smell. Specialty Produce describes a pungent aroma with sweet, onion and garlic-like undertones, and RinggitPlus says “the aroma is among the strongest of any durian”. DurianPenang calls it “a bit milder, or at least, more approachable”, while still strong. Treat the smell as a strong one and judge for yourself.
RinggitPlus calls the taste “mild and layered”, starting with floral sweetness and finishing with a slight bitterness and a faint alcoholic note, and says “not everyone takes to it”. We have not found a source that compares it directly with Musang King or D24, so we do not rank them here.
What to watch for
The “Queen to Musang King’s King” framing is marketing, not a registered pairing. Golden Phoenix is a good durian by many accounts, but judge it on its own merits, not on borrowed royal branding.
Do not judge by colour alone. The flesh is meant to be pale yellow to almost white, so pale flesh is not a sign of a fault by itself. We have not found a source that tells you how to separate a good pale fruit from a poor one, so check the fruit as you would any other: look at it opened, and ask to taste first where the stall allows it.
Sources describe small, flat seeds as a feature of the variety. If the seeds are large, ask the seller what the fruit is.
Price-wise, 2026 was a glut year until mid July, when supply tightened and prices came back up, so check the dated season status before accepting any “premium” quote.
Who it suits
RinggitPlus says Golden Phoenix has a low price and wide availability that make it easy to try without much commitment, and lists a typical price of RM10 to RM18 per kg. Specialty Produce adds that the small size suits smaller groups who do not want to eat too much durian. Because the smell is strong, it is not a gentle choice for anyone sensitive to it. And like any durian, keep it away from alcohol; the reasons are on our durian and alcohol guide.