The author of the article embarked on a pilgrimage to Belviz Farm in Wangan, Calinan, a 30-hectare tropical paradise dedicated to the King of Fruit, the durian. Hosted by passionate agripreneurs Emmanuel “Nel” and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz, the farm tour was a meticulous, multi-tiered tasting experience that unveiled the durian’s full personality spectrum. The author started with the Namam variety, which boasts a less pungent aroma and a lovely, balanced taste, and then proceeded to try other varieties, including Kob, Arancillo, Duyaya, Puyat, D-24, and the famous Native variety. Each variety showcased the complexity of textures and developing sweetness, with the Native variety being potent, bitter, and intense. The author, a self-proclaimed durian lover, happily devoured each variety, enjoying the subtle differences that only a farm-to-mouth tasting can truly reveal. The farm tour also included a fun simulation of durian catching, which demonstrated the critical art of harvesting, and a meeting with the Durian Cacao or Mocambo, a cousin of the durian. The author received a certificate declaring them a Certified Durian Lover and recommends booking a tour with Belviz Farm to truly understand why the durian commands such veneration.
