Knowledge
Premium Food
Japanese sea cucumbers
Brief Introduction :
-
Japanese sea cucumbers are made by drying fresh sea cucumbers. They are a kind of sea food that is of high nutritious value. Though they live in the sea, the sea cucumber is one of a warm-tonifying nature. Similar to ginseng in this regard, they are called Haishen (literally "ginseng of the sea") in Chinese. However, they are not of hot nature. Instead, they are a mild nature food.
- The Japanese Sea Cucumbers have roughly identical diet therapy efficacy and their processing steps are roughly the same. According to their species and origin, they can be categorized into Hokkaido Sea Cucumber, Kanto Sea Cucumber, Kansai Sea Cucumber, Okinawa Sea Cucumber, Akita Sea Cucumber, Red Sea Cucumber, and Okinawa Sea Cucumber. In general, they can be rehydrated from 4 to 8 times their original weight (depending on various specifications and rehydrating degrees).
Features：
- Hokkaido Sea Cucumber→ These are mainly produced in Hokkaido, a region to the north of Kanto. Due to geographical, climate, and water quality factors, their quality is of sea cucumbers belong to top grade, in spite of their slow growing speed. Despite their small size, they are characterized by thick, tender, and smooth meat, thin grayish brown skin, and dense conical spikes (about 6 columns) of various sizes. This is why they are also called Chishen (literally "spiking cucumber") in Chinese. They can be rehydrated to about 8 -fold their original weight .
- Kanto Sea Cucumber→ These are mainly produced in Kanto region. Due to geographical, climate, and water quality factors, their quality is also of top grading, in spite of their slow growing speed. They are not big in size, but their meat is thick. They are characterized by tender and smooth meat, dense (but sparser than those of Hokkaido Sea Cucumbers) conical spikes (about 6 columns), and thin skin that is grayish black in most cases. They can be rehydrated to about 6-fold their original weight.
- Kansai Sea Cucumber→ Mainly produced in Kansai region, they are cylinder shaped and characterized by succulent, grayish black meat. Their bodies are sparsely covered with spikes of various sizes. Their meat, which smells pleasant, is soft and smooth. They can be rehydrated to about 4-fold their original weight. The water used for the rehydration of Kansai Sea Cucumber has a faint greenish color, which is a natural phenomenon because of their growing environment and their consumption of algae as staple food.
- Okinawa Sea Cucumber→ Mainly produced in the Kansai region, they are of the genus Stichopus, characterized by spikes along their sides and a layer of grayish white carbon powder. Their meat is soft and smooth and has an agreeable flavor. They can be rehydrated to about 5-fold their original weight.
- Red Sea Cucumber→ Mainly produced in Southwestern Japan, these cucumbers are also called Hongzishen in Chinese. They are stout and their yellowish brown or red brown surface is covered with sparse and barely visible spikes. Their appearance is distinct and their thick, soft, and smooth meat tastes light and smells pleasant. They can be rehydrated to about 4-fold their original weight.
.jpg)
Efficacy :
Sea Cucumbers have kidney-tonifying, essence-replenishing, blood-nourishing, skin-moistening, complexion-beautifying, and anti-aging properties. In particular, they are beneficial to people with a weak constitutions.Characteristics : Tastes sweet and salty, in warm nature.
Procedure :
Soak the sea cucumbers in water for about 3 days (depending on their sizes), and change the water at least twice or three times every day. When the weather is hot,please conduct above procedure in fridge(0-8℃).
- Put them in boiling water and boil for about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the vessel, and allow the water to cool down. If the cucumbers are too large, repeat the previous steps 1 or 2 times until the sea cucumbers become soft.
- Remove the sea cucumbers from the water and cut them open to remove internal organs and impurities. Rinse them and cut them into pieces (according to cooking requirements), and then set aside for later use.
- Place them into hot water with ginger, shallot, and wine and boil for about 5 minutes, and they will be ready for cooking. If not cook immediately, it should be chilled (at 0-8°C) for storage and should be cooked and consumed within 1 week.
Notes : a. There might be a few fine grains of sand in the sea cucumber belly which must be thoroughly rinsed out before cooking.
b. When soaking sea cucumbers, make sure all utensils are free of oil and that no salt is added into the water. When removing internal organs from the sea cucumber, do not break the peritoneum, otherwise, the sea cucumber may loosen during cook.
Storage Method :
Sea cucumbers should be stored in a ventilated and cool place. If they are to be consumed over a long period of time, they should be sealed and chilled (at 0-8°C).
Supplementary Information :
Sea cucumbers are tonifying and beneficial and have good diet therapy effects. However, they taste light and have to be cooked with broth and oyster sauce to enhance their delicious taste.
We serve sea cucumbers with chicken, ribs and dried scallops. Upon receiving fully cooked sea cucumbers, customers can reheat the dishes before dining. Customers may inquire our shop assistants for further information.
Japanese Dried Abalones
Brief Introduction :
Dried Abalones are made by drying fresh abalones.They are a kind of seafood with vision-improving effects and rich in nutrients. Therefore, they are also called "Mingmuyu" (literally "vision-improving") in China. Generally, they are graded by the number of pieces per kilogram. The fewer the number, the higher their value.
Features:
-
Ami Abalone→ The origin of Ami Abalone is Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The body size of abalone is comparatively bigger. The edge is thick and rough.The suction cap at the bottom part is comparatively sharp. The back of the abalone is in bead shape. It is in dark brown color and there is some white powder on the surface.The meat is in chewy texture and have a strong good smell.
- Kippin Abalone→ Abalones are produced in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and they are also called Kippin Abalones. They are in gold-ingot shaped, and their occipital edges are high and their bodies upright. There are visible stripes in their bellies, and their bodies are hunched up. Kippin Abalones which are rehydrated by means of soaking and boiling have a strong taste and chewy. They have a beautiful crystal color and their meat is flexible and smooth.
- Ouma Abalone→ The origin of Ouma Abalone is Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Another name is "Uma Abalone". The body shape is flat and having a wide surface. The color is in golden yellow. They are usually dried by using a rope string. That's why the abalone body, around the side, is more smooth and easy to chew and digest. The taste is more smooth, tender and good smell.
Characteristics: Tastes sweet and salty and in mild nature.
Procedures: (1) Soak the abalones in water for about 2 days (depending on their size) until they become soft, and change the water at least once every day.
(2) Thoroughly brush the dust off the abalone body and from the gaps on its edge with a toothbrush, cut off the "stalk" in its mouth, remove its bowels, flush it clean with water, and then set aside for later use.
(3) Place it into hot water with ginger, spring onion, and wine and boil for about 5 minutes. If not cook immediately, it should be chilled (at -4°C to -18°C) for storage and should be cooked and consumed within 1 week.
(4) Place the rehydrated abalone and seasoning ingredients (consisting of 1 old chicken, 605g pork ribs, 5 scallops, and some rock sugar) into a clay pot with a bamboo mat at the bottom, and then add boiling water to cover the ingredients.
(5) Boil over high heat for about 2 hours, turn the heat down to a simmer for 5 to 6 hours, and let it cool down a bit. Then turn the heat up to a boil for another 2 hours, and cook it until the abalone becomes soft, thick, smooth, and tender.
(6) When the soup becomes thick, add boiling water accordingly (so that the water just cover the ingredients. Avoid adding too much boiling water, to prevent the soup from becoming too watery). Then remove the abalone, and add broth and oyster sauce to thicken the soup.
Note: The simmering time can be extended or cut down according to the size, thickness, and the hardness you prefer. Moreover, the abalone gravy must be thickened before serving, because this is the source of its flavor.
Making of the abalone gravy can be done by adding oyster sauce and the original gravy, or oyster sauce and broth, or Jinhua ham gravy and the original gravy.
Storage Method :
Abalones should be chilled (at 0-8°C) for storage. If they are to be consumed over a long period of time, it is suggested that they are sealed and frozen (at -18°C or below).
Supplementary Information:
The meat of abalones is tough and has a dense texture. Therefore, the only way to soften it to be perfectly chewable is to cook the abalone meat at the proper cooking temperatures.
- The "soft yolk" of abalone refers to its viscosity and coagulation. The better the quality of an abalone, the stronger its flavor, and the chewier its meat. When slicing the abalone, the knife should cut along the abalone's fiber, so that its texture will be even tenderer. The abalone should be eaten from its outer surface toward the center. Doing so will provide long-lasting aftertaste.
The cooking technique requirement is very high for abalone and it is very time consuming. Customer may take our service of abalone cooking for our customers, which can ask us to cook abalone for customers. Customers may inquire our shop assistant for further information.