Kob Mae Thao
กบแม่เฒ่าThe matriarch tree the whole 50+ Kob family is believed to descend from.
The ancestral Kob, the old mother variety the whole family traces back to. More a historical root than a fruit you will see at a stall today.
Varieties / Kob
Family groupKob
กบ
Kob · "Frog"
Also written: Gob · Cop · Kop · Kob family · Frog durian
Not a single durian but a large heirloom family of 50-plus named varieties, all thought to trace back to one ancestral tree, Kob Mae Thao (the old matriarch). Most are old Chanthaburi and Rayong orchard durians, now getting rarer as growers switch to Monthong. A few are worth seeking out, and the ones below are the best documented.
For enthusiastsModerate aromaRare
Identify it
The tellNot one fruit but a sprawling heirloom family of 50-plus named varieties, all thought to trace back to one matriarch tree, Kob Mae Thao. Ask the seller which Kob it is.
Shape
Generally rounded · varies
Size
1.5–3 kg · varies
Thorns
Varies by member
Flesh, cut
Yellow to rose-cream · varies
The varieties in this series
Kob Lep Yiao
กบเล็บเหยี่ยวHooked, talon-like thorns; thin skin over rose-tinted, fiberless cream.
The family's tour favourite. Super-soft, fiberless, faintly rose-coloured cream with red-wine tannins and chocolate over rich sweetness. Often likened to Malaysia's Red Prawn.
Size 1.5–3 kgSeason Eastern season · ChanthaburiAroma Moderate aroma
Kob Pikul
กบพิกุลEnormous, with an elongated pointed 'nose'; orangy-gold custard when ripe.
A big Nonthaburi Kob with an elongated, pointed nose, named after a real grower (Mr. Pikul). Ripens to a gorgeous orange-gold with Chanee-like egg-custard flesh and extra vanilla.
Size LargeSeason NonthaburiAroma Mild aroma
Kob Chai Nam
กบชายน้ำSmall and round with a flat bottom; sweet and intensely nutty.
A small, round, flat-bottomed Kob that eats like sweetened hazelnut butter with the slightest hint of chocolate.
Size ~1.7 kg · smallSeason Eastern seasonAroma Mild aroma
When it's good, by region
Kob season shifts with where it's grown
Eastern season; later-maturing. Varies by family member.
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Eastern Thailand (Chanthaburi/Rayong/Trat)
PeakIn seasonEstimated
Regional windows are approximate and shift year to year with weather. Hatched rows are best-estimate; refine them from your own logs.
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For contrast a different direction
Same region grown nearby
Kanyao
ก้านยาว
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Kradum
กระดุม
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Nuan Thong Chan
นวลทองจันทร์
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Nok Yip
นกหยิบ
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Chanthaburi Series
จันทบุรี
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Nom Sod
นมสด
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Chok Loi
จอกลอย
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Khiao Tam Lueng
เขียวตำลึง
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Thong Linjong
ทองลินจง
Also grown in Chanthaburi.
Overview
Not a single durian but a large heirloom family of 50-plus named varieties, all thought to trace back to one ancestral tree, Kob Mae Thao (the old matriarch). Most are old Chanthaburi and Rayong orchard durians, now getting rarer as growers switch to Monthong. A few are worth seeking out, and the ones below are the best documented.
Eastern season; later-maturing. Varies by family member. Grown in Chanthaburi, Rayong, Trat. Rare to find.
The Kob family has 50+ members and many look alike, so names are applied loosely at stalls. Member details below are documented by Year of the Durian; confirm the specific Kob with the seller.
Common questions
What is Kob durian?
Not a single durian but a large heirloom family of 50-plus named varieties, all thought to trace back to one ancestral tree, Kob Mae Thao (the old matriarch). Most are old Chanthaburi and Rayong orchard durians, now getting rarer as growers switch to Monthong. A few are worth seeking out, and the ones below are the best documented.
What Kob durian varieties are there?
The ones documented here are Kob Mae Thao, Kob Lep Yiao, Kob Pikul, Kob Chai Nam. Each is distinct in size, season, and flavour, so confirm which one with the seller.
Which Kob durian smells the least?
Kob Pikul. Enormous, with an elongated pointed 'nose'; orangy-gold custard when ripe.
When is Kob durian in season?
Eastern season; later-maturing. Varies by family member. Grown in Chanthaburi, Rayong, Trat. Windows are approximate and shift year to year with the weather.
Confidence: medium. Taste numbers are aggregated and subjective. Your own ratings refine them. Regional season windows are partly estimated; see the note above. The Kob family has 50+ members and many look alike, so names are applied loosely at stalls. Member details below are documented by Year of the Durian; confirm the specific Kob with the seller.