Few foods split a room like durian. Some people smell it and go weak at the knees; others smell it and leave. So when people find out we make a durian chocolate bar on Granville Island, the next question is always the same: what does it actually taste like? Here’s our honest answer, plus a few tips for trying it whether you’re a durian devotee or bravely curious.

First, what is durian?

Durian is a large, spiky tropical fruit grown across Southeast Asia, often called the “king of fruit”. Under the thorny husk are pods of soft, pale-yellow flesh with a texture like rich custard. The famous part is the aroma: intensely fragrant and complex, which is why you’ll see “no durian” signs on public transit and in hotels in parts of Southeast Asia.

In the Philippines, durian is closely tied to Davao in Mindanao, where it’s a point of local pride. For Filipino families in Canada, it’s often a taste of home that’s hard to find here, and almost impossible to find in good chocolate.

What does durian chocolate taste like?

Our Durian White starts creamy and caramelly from the white chocolate base. Then the durian arrives: tropical, custardy and unmistakably aromatic, with a long finish. If you love durian, it tastes like the real fruit, because it is. We stone-grind real durian into the chocolate, with no artificial flavouring.

If you’ve only met durian in candy or ice cream, expect something rounder and more natural. The cocoa butter carries the aroma without the harsh, artificial edge of flavoured sweets.

Why white chocolate?

Durian has a big personality, and dark chocolate has strong flavours of its own. A white chocolate base, made from scratch with cocoa butter from ethically sourced cacao, gives the durian room to lead. The creamy, caramel-like base complements its custardy side instead of competing with it.

Is durian chocolate common?

In Southeast Asia, durian sweets are everywhere. In North America, durian chocolate is rare, and bean-to-bar durian chocolate, where the maker also makes the chocolate from the bean, is rarer still. That gap is one reason we make it. Kasama has Filipino roots (our story started with cacao from family land in the Philippines, which you can read in Filipino Chocolate, Made in Vancouver), and Southeast Asian flavours like durian, tableya and muscovado are part of who we are.

Award-winning (yes, really)

Durian White has won International Chocolate Awards medals in several rounds of the competition, including a Silver at the 2026 Canadian competition, a Silver in the Americas round with special recognition for Ingredients and Innovation, and a Bronze at the World Final. See every medal on our awards page.

How to taste durian chocolate

• Let it warm up. Taste at room temperature so the aroma opens up.
• Smell first. Snap a square and breathe in before you taste. Half the experience is aroma.
• Let it melt. Don’t chew right away. Let the square melt on your tongue, and you’ll notice the caramel base first and the durian building after.
• Share it. Durian chocolate is a great conversation starter. Bring a bar to a party and watch the reactions.

How to store it

Keep the bar sealed in its wrapper, somewhere cool and dry (not the fridge). Durian is fragrant, and chocolate absorbs smells easily, so store it away from other chocolate if you want both to taste like themselves.

Durian chocolate FAQ

Does durian chocolate smell like durian?
Yes. Open the wrapper and you’ll know. It’s milder than a fresh fruit, but unmistakable.

Is it made with real durian?
Yes. Real durian is stone-ground right into the chocolate.

I don’t like durian. Will I like this?
Honestly, maybe not, and that’s fine. If you’re curious, ask for a sample at our Granville Island shop, or start with one of our berry white chocolates, like Strawberry White.

Can I buy durian chocolate in Canada?
Yes. Order Durian White online and we’ll ship it anywhere in Canada (free shipping in BC on orders over $60), or pick it up at our shop at 2-1244 Cartwright St on Granville Island.