I’ve had
just enough time to… savor the unique
taste of hairy crabs
Is this a male or female hairy crab? Read further...
I’ll be
going off to China at the end of the week. And right in the middle of the hairy
crab season though I’m not going to Shanghai this time where the best hairy
crabs are reputedly from or more specifically these two lakes – Lake Tai and
Lake Yangcheng. The first time I had hairy crabs was on the way from Shanghai
to Kunshan last year in one of the lakes where hundreds of small stalls and
larger restaurants lined the shore of the lake selling just one product – hairy
crabs!
Served and ready to be eaten...
These crabs
are not cheap and a single crab can set you back $20 depending on the size. The
female crab is best eaten September to October and the male crab is best eaten
October to November due to the quality of the roe. And the roe is what these
crabs are so highly prized. They are always steamed. I don’t know how to begin
describing the unique taste of the succulent orangey yellow roe. It had been
described as a delicate lingering creamy flavor. The meat is dipped in sweet
black vinegar sauce with shredded ginger.
A family harvesting hairy crabs
The hairy
crabs are so-called because of its furry dark hairs on its claws that looks
like mittens. Thus, they are also called mitten crabs. You can distinguish the
female by the oval-shaped belly. The males have more hairs on their claws and a
triangular designed on their belly. So can you guess if that picture is that of
a male or female. Maybe I will get to eat hairy crabs again on this coming trip
to Beijing. But if not, I will settle for Peking Duck!
________
A Hairy Crab Vending Machine?...
So that's a boy crab?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA 1000 Reasons (Off to the Great Wall of China)
Is that a male or female crab? And when is the best time to eat the male and female?
★ΞSSΞ®®Ξ added this photo to his favorites.
try to have a great time and do lot of pictures and don't work to much... :D
★ineedathis added this photo to his favorites.
Some awesome details on this great macro!
Wishing you a beautiful weekend my friend!
bloodybee
amazing detail!
henrhyde (gill)
Enjoy the work-travelling Thou -San
Great image and words.
Eyemdreaming
Definiely a very nasty face...and pincers!
Wishing you happy and safe travels also.
★♥♥Ever-Green Veronica♥♥ MOSTLY OFF added this photo to her favorites.
Ohhhh and now I am sure I will never eat a hairy crab.... looks a bit scary... he might bite me... waaahhh
Hugs my friend Thou.... I hope you have a pleasant trip (for pleasant I mean that you do not get too tired..............) because business trips are always so exhausting.....
Take care... and see you on your return..... :-) ☺☺☺
★Steve Taylor (Photography) added this photo to his favorites.
Looks very much like the Predator from the film
ho.ge
oh wow! very hairy! :)
Have a good time and a save travelling!
Take care!
kelly dilello
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME
see you soon!
★i_still_believe_in_u added this photo to their favorites.
Tarot Woman2012
Brilliant close work ..............not so sure about your model though..........have a safe journey.
★itCHINg-sWELLing-bURniNG-BRaiN! added this photo to their favorites.
face hugger!
oola neruda
YIKES!!
nice shot tho
hope all your travels are safe, healthy and enjoyable
★oola neruda and msonflk is running late added this photo to their favorites.
msonflk is running late
amazing closeup capture, nice work.
Yasmin de light - on and off
Oh wow - what a scary looking crab Thou. Looks like he is staring at you through his pincers - just waiting for you to get near enough before he has you for dinner lol.
I hope you have a wonderful, safe and happy trip and bring back some more amazing photos and stories to share with us. All the best my friend : ))
★Yasmin de light - on and off added this photo to her favorites.
"Chuck"
Great image and have an enjoyable trip.
ReplyDeleteA 1000 Reasons (Off to the Great Wall of China)
I've heard a lot about hairy crabs but I've never eaten one until last year that is. During that trip, I was given so many hairy crabs by every hosts that in the end I wished (thanks them for their great hospitality!) I was given some other things to eat. Ha ha, man are never satisfied but there are such things as the Law of Diminishing Returns no matter how valuable that stuff is. But then that is a year ago, now I'm heading there tomorrow and the thought of eating another hairy crab tingles my tongue. So maybe, I'll get to eat them again but if not, I will settle for Peking Duck! And that is another story...
ineedathis
Great choice of sea food, I also love Peking Duck, hopefully when you are back eat some for me:-) great shot!
★ineedathis added this photo to his favorites.
henrhyde (gill)
Grand image.
★♥♥Ever-Green Veronica♥♥ MOSTLY OFF added this photo to her favorites.
The photo is beautiful Dear Thou............. I like to hear the procedures of cooking.... I have never eaten a crab before so I will imagine the taste from your description.....
Have a good time in China my friend.....
♥♥Ever-Green Veronica♥♥ MOSTLY OFF
Thank you for comments on the Guardian Angels.... Ohhh I think we can just say thank you some time and I am sure if they are in the roundabouts they will be pleased...... :-) :-)
★Steve Taylor (Photography) added this photo to his favorites.
It looks asleep
★Yasmin de light - on and off added this photo to her favorites.
Well I am really surprised and amazed my friend. First of all I don't know why but I was under the impression you were a vegetarian - so I was surprised to hear your story lol. I myself am an aspiring vegetarian - Most of the time I eat vegetarian dishes but now and then give in to the urge of chicken or fish. Secondly, I have never heard of or seen such a crab before so this is quite amazing for me. This particular crab looks quite scary to me : D - he looks really annoyed and quite ready to grab anyone who tries to touch him he he he. I hope no one was injured in the process of trying to eat it lol : ))